OSAGE CITY — The Osage County Sheriff’s Department said heavy smoke from a controlled burn along U.S. 56 contributed to crashes that injured three people Saturday evening. The crashes began when Craig Matthews II, Carbondale, slowed because of the smoke and because another vehicle slowed ahead, the sheriff’s office said. Robert Berry. Admire, rear-ended Matthews’pickup. Other drivers pulled over to offer help. The sheriff’s office said Clarke Wenger, Osage City then plowed into two people standing on the highway helping Berry and hit two parked vehicles. Helicopters flew the two pedestrians and berry to hospitals. Shaun Tevis of Admire was flown to KU Medical Center and Jarod Mosiman, Valley Falls; and Berry were each flown to Stormont Vail Medical Center in Topeka.
Monday, Feb. 20, 11:30 a.m.
