Weather Blamed For Injury Accident Near El Dorado

Thursday, April 22, 2010 - KAKE

Cathleen Wilson, of rural El Dorado, may have veered out of her lane because of blinding rain during the time of the crash, according to Butler County Sheriff Craig Murphy.

The accident happened at about 1:40 p.m. at Satchel Creek Road and U.S. Highway 54, just east of El Dorado.

When deputies arrived they found Wilson's passenger car facing east in the west bound lane and the semi truck in the ditch on the north side of US 54.

Wilson was pinned in her vehicle and had to be extricated by the Butler County Rescue Squad. She was taken in critical condition to Via Christi at St. Francis in Wichita where she was later upgraded to serious condition.

The driver of the semi truck was not injured.

Sheriff Craig Murphy says that the westbound passenger car was in the eastbound lane at the time of the head-on crash. There was a heavy rain in progress at the time of the crash with blinding visibility for a moving vehicle. It is believed that the driver of the passenger car was unable to distinguish the proper lane due to the heavy rain.

The driver of the passenger car has been identified as 63-year-old Cathleen Wilson of rural El Dorado and has since been upgraded to serious condition.

Both drivers were alone in their respective vehicles.