Truck fleeing stop causes 2-vehicle crash that closes bypass, sends 4 to hospital

Price likely to be charged in connection with two-vehicle collision

ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. (Sept. 7, 2021) — The Arkansas City Police Department continues to investigate a two-vehicle accident leading to hospitalizations Sept. 7, following an attempted stop.

Officers at 9:20 a.m. Sept. 7 observed a red 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck, driven by Casiopia Price, 27, of Arkansas City, traveling eastbound on East Chestnut Avenue at the B Street intersection.

Police learned Price was operating the vehicle with a suspended driver’s license and they attempted to conduct a traffic stop at 9:21 a.m. as both vehicles continued eastbound, approaching North D Street.

Price accelerated the Dodge truck away from officers when they attempted to stop her for the violation. The truck continued to accelerate and failed to stop at the intersection of Chestnut and U.S. 77.

At 9:22 a.m., the truck entered the bypass intersection, where it was struck by an apparently northbound 2015 Chrysler Town and Country van. Both vehicles traveled through the intersection after the collision and came to a stop off the roadway, to the northeast of the intersection.

A utility pole was struck by one of the vehicles, causing a downed line on the U.S. 77 bypass, which was closed temporarily between Kansas and Madison avenues while emergency crews responded.

Price allegedly attempted to flee the scene on foot. However, she was quickly taken into custody.

The Arkansas City Fire-EMS Department was dispatched to the scene to treat the injured parties.

The 46-year-old driver of the van was transported in stable condition to William Newton Hospital in Winfield. A 37-year-old passenger in the van was transported by the Fire-EMS Department in critical condition to South Central Kansas Medical Center and later flown to Ascension Via Christi St. Francis in Wichita for further treatment.

A 3-year-old passenger in the van was treated at South Central Kansas Medical Center, and is listed as stable and in good condition. Price was listed as being in fair to critical condition after also being transported to South Central Kansas Medical Center.

The Kansas Highway Patrol is assisting ACPD with the investigation. Once it is complete, the police department will coordinate with the Cowley County Attorney’s Office on possible criminal charges.

A defendant’s guilt or innocence is to be determined by a court of law.