10:20 a.m. update  The couple from Lyons who died in Tuesday’s crash in Barton County had close ties to Fort Hays State University.  Gordon, a member of the FHSU Alumni Association Board, graduated from FHSU with a Bachelor of Science in Art Education and his Master of Science in Art Education in 1955 and 1958, respectively; Rae (Revell) also graduated from FHSU with a Bachelor of Science in Art in 1958.

They were well known as artists throughout the state of Kansas and beyond.

The Zahradniks have two grown children, April and Zane, and seven grandchildren.

4:45 a.m. Two people were killed when a car collided with a tractor trailer Tuesday afternoon near Claflin.  According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, 80-year old

Gordon Zahradnik and 78-year old Rae Zahradnik, both of Lyons, died at Great Bend Regional Hospital.

The car the Zahradnik’s was driving was merging onto K-156 highway Eastbound from K-4 when it was stuck by 2001 Kenworth semi-truck driven by 50-year old Melody Dawn Bole of Casey, Iowa.  According to the crash report, the Zahradnik’s were attempting to make a u-turn when they were struck by the semi.  The car the Zahradnik’s were driving entered the north ditch and went down an embankment where it came to rest in a ditch.

Bole was not injured in the crash  Zahradnik and his wife were not wearing seat belts..