By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is determining what kind of  liquid poured onto the front lawn of a residence following a wreck believed to have been caused by an impaired driver earlier this week.

According to Hays Chief of Police Don Scheibler, at 2:10 a.m. Monday, an accident was reported on the 500 block of East 17th.

When officers arrived to the scene, they found a “large-sized truck with a flatbed” had struck a  parked car, left the roadway and crashed into a tree.

Officers discovered what was thought to be diesel fuel or a “concentrated herbicide” leaking onto the ground from the truck.

The Hays Fire Department quickly controlled the spill. Scheibler said “with an unknown amount of ground contamination in the front yard of the residence, the matter was referred to the KDHE.”

Officials from the KDHE will determine if any extra steps need to be taken, Scheibler said.

He said the 24-year-old driver, Joshua K. Patton of Seiling, Okla., was transported to Hays Medical Center for possible injuries.

Patton was also arrested for driving under the influence, revoked license and inattentive driving.