(Photo courtesy of Reno County Sheriff’s Office)

Reno County Sheriff officials are still investigating a multiple vehicle accident early Thursday morning east of Hutchinson.

It was just before 7 a-m, when a four vehicle crash took place on east 30th, just west of Kent Rd.
A Buhler School bus was stopped to load passengers and there was a line of vehicles stopped behind the bus.

According to Sheriff Officials, the driver of a gray Ford Escape, 20-year-old Chelsea Shantz was west bound and failed to stop and struck a red Mini Cooper driven by 58-year-old Ann Smith of North Newton. The Mini Cooper was then shoved into a black Ford Edge driven by 34-year-old Heather Johnson of Hutchinson. Her vehicle was then shoved into a 2006 Mazda 6, driven by 17-year-old Lane Richert of Buhler.

Smith was flown by Midwest Lifeteam Helicopter to a Wichita hospital with unknown head injuries.

Shantz was not wearing a seat belt, and was taken by Reno County EMS, to Hutch Regional Medical Center, with undetermined head injuries.

Niether Johnson or Richert were injured.

Sheriff officials believe that there may be other witnesses who saw what happened and they’re asking that if you saw the accident to please call the Sheriff’s office at 620-694-2735.