A 58-year-old woman died after the vehicle she was riding in left an interstate, travelled down an embankment and struck a tree Thursday night.
The crash happened shortly after 8:30 p.m. in McPherson County, Kansas, approximately seven miles north of McPherson.
The Kansas Highway Patrol identified the passenger who died as Barbara S. Gray, 58, of Salina. The driver was identified as Edward D. Gray, 58, also of Salina.
Vehicle Was Travelling North On Interstate
According to the Highway Patrol’s preliminary crash report, Edward Gray was driving a 2004 BMW Z4 north on Interstate 135.
The vehicle was travelling just north of Pioneer Road when Gray attempted to pass another vehicle using the left lane.
During the passing manoeuvre, the driver lost control of the BMW. The car left the roadway and entered the west ditch before continuing down an embankment.
The passenger side of the vehicle then struck a tree.
Passenger Pronounced Dead At Hospital
Emergency medical personnel responded to the scene and transported both occupants to McPherson Center for Health.
Barbara Gray was pronounced dead at the hospital following the crash. Authorities did not provide additional information about the medical treatment she received after arriving.
The driver was also taken to the hospital, but officials did not release details about his injuries or current condition.
No other injuries were reported, and the preliminary information did not indicate that the vehicle being passed was involved in a collision.
Both Occupants Were Wearing Seat Belts
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported that both Edward and Barbara Gray were properly restrained when the crash occurred.
Seat belts can reduce the likelihood of ejection and severe injury, but they cannot eliminate the dangers created by high-impact collisions, particularly when a vehicle strikes a fixed object.
The BMW hit the tree on its passenger side, where Barbara Gray was seated. Officials did not release additional information about the extent of the vehicle’s damage.
Circumstances Remain Under Review
The preliminary report states that the driver lost control while attempting to pass another vehicle. Authorities have not announced whether speed, road conditions, mechanical failure or another factor contributed to the crash.
No information was immediately available about traffic conditions on Interstate 135 at the time.
Investigators may review physical evidence from the roadway, damage to the vehicle and statements from witnesses while completing the official crash report.
The Highway Patrol’s online crash logs contain preliminary information and can be updated as investigators confirm additional details. The agency advises that crash-log information remains subject to change.
Emergency Crews Respond To Interstate Scene
The crash required emergency personnel to reach the vehicle after it travelled into the west ditch and down the roadside embankment.
Responders then transported both occupants from the crash scene to the medical facility in McPherson.
Authorities did not say how long the emergency response affected northbound traffic or whether lanes were temporarily restricted while crews worked.
The identities of the occupants were released after the Highway Patrol completed the necessary family-notification process.
Investigation Continues
The Highway Patrol has not announced any citations or other enforcement action connected with the crash.
Fatal crash investigations can remain open while officers complete reports and determine the contributing circumstances. The publicly available information currently provides only the initial sequence reported by investigators.
Additional findings could be released if the preliminary account is updated.
Barbara S. Gray, 58, died after a BMW travelling north on Interstate 135 left the roadway during an attempted passing manoeuvre and struck a tree in McPherson County. Driver Edward D.
Gray was also transported to a hospital, but his condition was not disclosed. Both occupants were wearing seat belts, and the circumstances surrounding the loss of control remain under investigation.