5th-grade student passes away in rollover crash

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, a 5th-grade student has died in a fatal rollover accident in Jewell Co., east of Mankato, Kansas.

KHP said it was called to respond to a rollover accident near the intersection of U.S. 36 and Randall Rd. at 250th Rd. and O Rd., which is about 1 mile south of the intersection, at 7:30 a.m. Friday morning.

The KHP crash log indicates that as crews arrived, they found a 2011 Chevrolet Suburban, which KHP said was a Rock Hill School district vehicle driving its regular school route, had rolled into a ditch, re-entered a roadway, and overturned landing on its top in the west ditch.

Five students were involved in the accident, along with the driver. Unfortunately, one student was pronounced dead at the scene. The four other students and the driver identified by Kansas Highway Patrol as Audra Wilburn, 42, of Portsmouth, were taken to a local hospital for medical evaluation as a precaution.

No injuries were reported among the others.

The Critical Highway Accident Response Unit is on the scene to determine what happened in the crash. 13 NEWS has reached out to the district’s superintendent for a statement.

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