A Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy was injured early yesterday morning, April 2nd, when an impaired driver crashed into him. At 3:25 yesterday morning, Deputy Evan Macklin, of Pomona was stopped at the railroad crossing at K-68 and Idaho Road, waiting for a train pass, when a vehicle, driven by 21-year-old Taisheona Barber, of Topeka, struck him from behind, pushing the deputy’s vehicle into another vehicle stopped in front of him, driven by 33-year-old Cassie Hildebrandt, of Pomona. Both Barber and Macklin were transported to AdventHealth Ottawa for treatment of their injuries. Macklin with minor injuries, Barber with serious injuries. Hildebrandt was not injured. Both of the injured are expected to make a full recovery.
During the response, evidence suggested that Barber was potentially impaired. The Kansas Highway Patrol was asked to investigate the incident, due to the Sheriff Deputy involvement. Sheriff Jeff Richards thanked the Ottawa Police Department for responding to help, as well as Franklin County EMS, AdventHealth Ottawa, and Franklin County Communications for their assistance in the response to the accident.
