ELLSWORTH COUNTY – A Hays teen was injured in an accident just before 12:15p.m. on Thursday in Ellsworth County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2010 Ford Escape driven by Owen Patrick Toepfer, 18, was westbound on Interstate 70 two miles east of the Kansas 18 Junction.

An object in the vehicle distracted the driver.

The Ford rear-ended the trailer of a westbound 2002 Chevy pickup driven by Jeffrey T. Underwood, 23, Faulkner, AR. that was in the right lane traveling at 45 miles-per-hour and gaining speed with four-way flashers on.

Toepfer was transported to the hospital in Salina.

Underwood and a passenger were not injured.

All three were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHPLocal