A series of crashes, that began with a deer strike, Friday night on K-15 Highway, sent two people to the hospital, according to the Cowley County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies were dispatched around 8:13 p.m. Nov. 7 to the 23000 block of K-15 for reports of a multi-vehicle collision. Investigators determined that two separate crashes occurred within a short time of each other.
The first crash involved three eastbound vehicles — a white 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan driven by 22-year-old Lainey Shropshire of Winfield, with passenger 21-year-old Cooper Smith of Winfield; a white 2023 Ford F-150 owned by the City of Arkansas City and driven by 28-year-old Taylor Bennett of Dexter; and a gray 2021 Ford Edge driven by 27-year-old Natalie Bennett of Dexter with three juvenile passengers.
Deputies said a deer entered the roadway, causing the Volkswagen to brake. The Ford F-150 also slowed, and the gray Ford Edge was unable to stop in time, striking the rear of the F-150. That crash disabled the Ford Edge in the roadway of the opposing lane.
Taylor Bennett helped remove the juveniles from the disabled vehicle before a second collision occurred.
The second crash involved the disabled gray Ford Edge — now occupied only by Natalie Bennett — and a westbound silver 2012 Ford Edge driven by 43-year-old Darcie Randall of Dexter, who had a juvenile passenger. The westbound vehicle struck the disabled car, forcing it into the north ditch.
Natalie Bennett was extricated by fire personnel and transported to Wesley Medical Center, where she was later released. Randall was taken to William Newton Hospital and has also been released.
