A Hutchinson man is in fair condition after his pick up truck was crushed by a semi in the city early this morning. Police say 33-year-old Benjamin Branton of 1409 East 27th was going north on Pershing just before 2:30 a-m when he pulled onto 4th Avenue and into the path of a westbound semi.

The pick up went under the trailer of the rig and was crushed by the rear wheels which went across the hood of Branton’s vehicle. After a short distance the pick up separated from the semi and rolled into the building housing the Kwik Shop corporate offices causing minor damage to the structure.

Branton was able to free himself from the wreckage but when authorities arrived he was unconscious. He was taken to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center and then transported to Via-Cristi St Francis Regional Medical Center in Wichita with head and chest injuries. The driver of the semi, 46-year-old Richard Tripp, of Pratt was uninjured.