The first fatal accident of the day in Franklin County occurred at 5:35a.m. A semi-truck driven by Christopher Erion of Montevideo Minnesota was westbound on K-68 7 miles east of Ottawa when a deer ran in front of the truck. After striking the deer, he applied the brakes which locked up causing the truck and trailer to jackknife. The truck and tractor went into the eastbound lanes and struck the guardrail causing the vehicle to jackknife on the bridge between Utah and Vermont on K-68, wedging between the guard rails. A pickup truck driven by 47-year-old John Yaple of Harrisonville Missouri collided with the back of the semi truck, going under the back axle. Both vehicles came to a rest on the bridge. Yaples was pronounced dead at the scene. Erion was taken to ransom memorial hospital for possible injuries.
The accident closed K-68 in the area of the accident for several hours as crews investigated.
