OTTAWA — Local law officers were overwhelmed by a large number of traffic accidents because of icy roads Sunday night and this morning because of a powerful winter storm that sprayed sleet, ice and freezing rain throughout the area and coated highways. Although there were several minor injuries, there was only one accident was reported in which one person was hospitalized. Franklin County Sheriff Jeff Richards was out all night helping his deputies and said he worked several accidents in which vehicles rolled over. Some of those accidents involved minor injuries that could have been worse but for the fact the occupants wore seat belts, he said. Two people were taken to Ransom Memorial Hospital Sunday night following a one-vehicle accident on I-35 near Wellsville because of slippery conditions. Lexie Covington, 33, of Kansas City, Kan., was driving south on I-35 near the K-33 intersection when he lost control of his pickup and it rolled in the center median, the Kansas Highway Patrol said. He was takeb to RMH. A family member said he was taken to a Kansas City hospital later. Kimberly Simmons, 24, Kansas City, Kan., was a passenger in his truck. She was also taken to RMH for examination of possible injuries. Both were wearing seat belts.
Monday, Dec. 9, 4 p.m.
