OTTAWA — Three Ottawans were injured late Tuesday night after one of them went the wrong way up a U.S. 59 interchange ramp north of Ottawa. Two Franklin County deputies received minor injuries rescuing them from the fiery crash that resulted. The Kansas Highway Patrol said Steven Gibson, 34, drove north on the south-bound U.S. 59 interchange ramp at Stafford Road. The SUV that Gibson was driving crossed Stafford Road, went into a ravine, and ran into a concrete drain tube. Ottawa police said they tried to pull him over in the 700 block of North Main Street at about 10:30 p.m., when he took off and fled from officers. Deputies running without emergency lights went north out of town and a deputy found the crash scene, Sheriff Jeff Richards said. “The people were ejected from the vehicle and the vehicle caught on fire,” Richard said. Officers climbed down the ravine to pull them away from the fire, he said. “It was a dangerous situation,” Richards said. Gibson received what the highway patrol described as disabling injuries and was taken to KU Medical Center. Two passengers in his SUV, Alejandro Gonzales, 16, and Juliann Mendoza, 18; were also injured and were taken to Overland Park Regional Medical Center. Earlier Tuesday, Gibson was booked into the Franklin County jail for driving while suspended, and possession of depressants and drug paraphernalia.
Wednesday, April 2, 1 p.m.
