May 19, 2025

3 hospitalized in Hays after violent I-70 accident

Posted May 19, 2025 6:00 PM

ELLIS COUNTY—Three people were injured in an accident just before 4:30a.m. Monday in Ellis County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2018 GMC Sierra driven by a Richard G Needy, 59, Smithburg, Maryland, was eastbound on Interstate 70 just west of Yocemento Avenue.

The pickup traveled off the road to the left into the ditch, rolled for an unknown number of times, continued rolling over the guardrail and coming to rest in the median.

EMS transported Needy and passengers Dale E Freed, 66 and Knepp, Gary L. Knepp, 78, both of Newport, Pennsylvania, to Hays Medical Center. All three were properly restrained, according to the KHP.