The two drivers involved in a fiery crash east of Wellington on Tuesday morning have been identified as those killed in the collision, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.
John Karlin Stoddard, 56, of Belle Plaine, was identified as the driver of a 2001 Ford F-150 that was eastbound on U.S. 160. Investigators said the pickup went left of center for an unknown reason.
The Ford collided with a westbound 2016 Peterbilt box truck driven by 29-year-old Michael Anthony Windahl of Harper. Both vehicles came to rest in the south ditch and caught fire.
Just before 10 a.m., Wellington Fire/EMS responded and extinguished the blaze. Each driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash occurred on U.S. 160 east of the Wellington exit of the Kansas Turnpike.
A section of roadway from that exit east to South Oliver Road was closed for nearly eight hours while the Kansas Highway Patrol investigated.
