Kansas Fatal police chase 2 killed | Deadly accident

Video of high speed chase accident at US50 & Buhler/Haven Road.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Two Hutchinson residents were the two killed in a high speed chase that ended
with the car hitting a semi just after 9:00 a.m. at US-50 and Buhler/Haven Rd.

The Kansas Highway Patrol identified the two as 27-year-old Wendell Hicks III, the driver; (top left) and his passenger 48-year-old Lee Billinger, (top right).

According to Newton Police, the two along with a female were suspected of shoplifting at the Newton Walmart around 8:55 a.m. The subjects loaded up two shopping carts and then tried to pay for the items with fraudulent credit cards. When confronted the three left one of the carts and left the parking lot in two cars.

Police then discovered one of the vehicles was stolen. When they tried to make contact with that car, it took off west on US-50 at a high rate of speed.

The chase continued into Reno County at speeds of over 100 miles per hour. As the car approached Buhler/Haven Road, the subjects tried to avoid stop sticks that had been deployed. The car went out of control and hit the eastbound semi broadside, killing Hicks and Billinger instantly. The driver of the semi, 55-year-old Russell Craven of Sterling was taken to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center as a precaution but was not injured.

The second car involved in the theft was located in Hutchinson and reports are a female was spotted walking away from that vehicle. No word on whether that person has been taken into custody or questioned.

US-50 was closed for most of the day between Buhler/Haven Road and Kent Road, along with a stretch of Buhler/Haven Road from G Avenue to Illinois.

http://www.hutchpost.com/2016/11/11/t…

Aftermath of the accident — http://imgur.com/kvlQJiM