by Fred Gough ~ Hutch Post

Two Hutchinson men escaped injury in fiery crash Monday when the semi they were in was struck in the rear of their vehicle.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, 50-year-old Timothy M. Lakey of St. Joseph, Mo., was eastbound on U-S 50, pulling a grain hopper. He says he looked down to get his cup of coffee and then looked up to see a vehicle driven by 22-year-old Trent D. Jordon of Hutchinson. He says he couldn’t avoid striking the rear of Jordon’s International truck. Lakey’s vehicle caught fire as he escaped the truck on the passenger side, within minutes his vehicle was fully engulfed in flames.

Neither Jordon nor his passenger were injured, however, Lakey was taken to the Edward’s County Hospital for treatment.

The accident occurring on 50-highway in Edwards County about a mile west of Kinsley.