Updated: 6:43 p.m.
The driver of a cement truck that rolled over west of Winfield on U.S. 160 Tuesday morning has died.
According to a report from the Kansas Highway Patrol released Tuesday afternoon, the deceased is Charles Velz, 50, of Winfield.
KHP says Velz died at William Newton Hospital just after 10 a.m. due to fatal injuries. Next of kin were notified.
According to the report, Velz was driving a 2023 Western Star cement mixer eastbound on U.S. 160 when it left the roadway, struck a culvert, and partially overturned in the south ditch.
The truck came to rest on the passenger side facing west.
Velz was ejected from the vehicle.
KHP says no safety restraint was used and that the truck did not have a license plate.
Earlier:
A cement truck overturned Tuesday morning just west of the Winfield city limits on U.S. 160.
The driver was injured and transported from the scene via ambulance.
The driver’s identity and condition is unknown and will be released by the Kansas Highway Patrol once its investigation is complete.
A Winfield resident at the scene told Cowley Post he was inside his home at the time of the accident and heard loud bangs outside. He went outside and saw the overturned cement truck on the south side of the highway in the ditch in front of his property and immediately called 911 at 9:20 a.m.
He described the driver as unresponsive.
Authorities at the scene told Cowley Post the truck appeared to be traveling eastbound before the accident. No other vehicles were believed to be involved.
The accident closed the eastbound lane from the Winfield city limit sign to approximately 200 yards or more west.
The Cowley County Sherriff’s Office, the Kansas Department of Transportation and the KHP responded.
KHP is directing the investigation and more information will be added as soon as it is released to media.
