HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Bruce M. Stoecklein, 45, Arlington, escaped serious injury after he crashed his SUV following a long erratic drive down US-50 Wednesday.

Reno County 911 started getting calls over the noon hour of a man driving the wrong way down US-50, forcing several vehicles off the road, including a semi near Partridge.

The driver eventually got on the four lane of US-50 and K61 near Pleasantview and continued east at a high rate of speed when his vehicle left the road and vaulted over two fences before coming to rest in a farm field near Whiteside. Stoecklein was treated at the scene by EMS and was then escorted to an ambulance and transported to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center.

The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating whether alcohol was involved, or if the man had some type of medical issue. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

HARVEY COUNTY- Fire crews in Harvey County are being credited with saving a life and a home, according to a media release.

Upon arrival at 4300 SE 24th, the Newton fire and first responders found a shed fully engulfed in flames. The fire was so intense it melted the siding on the house and was about to catch the house on fire as well.

Harvey County Sheriff Deputies were able to enter the home, wake up the resident and get him out.

There were no injuries. Cause of the fire is under investigation.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The new Magistrate Judge for Reno County was sworn into office Tuesday morning before a nearly packed courtroom.

Cheryl I. Allen (top right) was selected by Governor Sam Brownback to replacing Judge Randy McEwen who retired earlier this year.

Allen took the oath of office from Administrative Judge Patty Macke Dick (top left) early Tuesday morning.

Allen most recently served as an Assistant District Attorney, mainly covering juvenile matters for that office. She had also at one point worked for Legal Services through the Kansas Department of Corrections representing inmates who needed a lawyer in district court matters.

Allen told us she was excited at her new position saying its something she has always wanted to do. But, she admits it bittersweet to leave the D.A’s office noting how much likes the people she worked with in that office. She says had she been selected for the magistrate position, she would have been fine saying she loved what she had been doing.

Allen’s first chore Tuesday morning was to handle first appearances in District Court for those arrested by law enforcement or picked up a ticket by the Sheriff’s Office or Kansas Highway Patrol.

But, she will also over see some preliminary hearings taking some of the burden off the other judges.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – A 24-year-old Lyons woman was taken to a Wichita hospital after a one vehicle accident north of Hutchinson Monday.

According to the Reno County Sheriff’s Office, Stormy Pitts was driving westbound on 82nd just east of Hendricks when her right passenger side tire left the roadway. She overcorrected and rolled the vehicle into the north ditch. Pitts was not wearing her seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle. She was transported to the helipad at the Hutchinson Regional Medical Center and then taken to Vic Cristi St. Francis by helicopter.

The accident occurring around 3:45 p.m.

NEWTON, Kan. – A 20-year-old man was killed in an accident early Monday morning in Harvey County. According to the Harvey County Sheriff’s Office, a Cox Cable truck was traveling on Dutch Avenue when the driver lost control and hit a bridge guard rail.

The rail impaled the truck, causing the truck to flip over and go down into Sand Creek. The driver died as a result of the accident.

Investigation revealed the Cox Cable truck had been stolen out of Hutchinson and the deceased driver was not a Cox employee.

Dutch Avenue is back open and repairs are scheduled for the guard rail and part of the bridge.

The driver was a 20-year-old male from McPherson. His name has not been released and won’t be until notification can be made to next of kin.

ELLSWORTH- Four people were injured in an accident just after 2p.m. on Saturday in Ellsworth County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Toyota Camry driven by Alan C. Rice, 16, Ellsworth, was westbound on Kansas140 just west of the Kansas 156 Junction.

The driver failed to yield and made an unsafe left turn in front of a 1995 Honda Prelude driven by Dania O. Gonzalez, 16, Wichita, that was eastbound on K140

Rice, Gonzalez, and passengers in the Honda Candelaria Navarrete-Barron, 44, and a 6-year-old both of Wichita were transported to Ellsworth County Medical Center.

All were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

Both vehicles camed to rest in the intersection.