Jun 16, 2021

Rooks County man dies in rear-end pickup crash, fire

Posted Jun 16, 2021 8:04 PM

ROOKS COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just before 7:30a.m. Wednesday in Rooks County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1997 Mazda pickup driven by Braden Higdon, 23, Stockton,  was eastbound on U.S. 24 nine miles east of Stockton. 

The pickup rear-ended a 2013 Ford pickup driven by Staci Ketelsen, 41, Stockton, who had started to slow down to turn right into her driveway.

After the crash, the Mazda  continued eastbound, entered the north ditch and caught fire.

Higdon was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Plumer Overlease Funeral Home. EMS transported Ketelsen to the hospital in Plainville. The KHP did not have complete seat belt information due to the fire.