Obituary, Death: Katelyn Heier, 21-Year-Old Sedgwick Woman, Tragically Killed in a Three-Vehicle Crash on I-135 Near Valley Center: Collision Occurs Amid Congested Traffic as Toyota Crosses Median into Oncoming Lane, Kansas Highway Patrol Reports Fatal Outcome

On Wednesday, September 11, 2024, 21-year-old Katelyn Heier was killed in a three-vehicle crash on I-135 in Valley Center, Kansas, in a tragic accident that has left the Sedgwick and Valley Center communities in shock. The unfortunate occurrence happened at 3:20 p.m. amid a period of significant traffic congestion. The young woman was killed in a series of collisions that followed.

The incident, which started when Katelyn Heier’s Toyota Camry collided with the back of a Honda Accord while traveling north, happened in a matter of seconds, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol. Her car swerved off course as a result of the incident, swerving across the median and finally into the southbound lanes of the highway. The massive Ford F-450 truck and the Toyota had a catastrophic head-on collision in these lanes.

Sadly, Heier was declared deceased when emergency personnel got on the site despite their rapid arrival. The force of the crash was so great that her Toyota Camry’s front end was completely crushed. Heier was not going to be saved, no matter how hard first responders tried. She was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision, which may have contributed to the fatal outcome, according to confirmation from the authorities later on.

On the other hand, despite being shook, the occupants of the other cars in the collision only suffered minor injuries. There were no significant injuries recorded, although one passenger in the Ford F-450 complained of pain and received treatment on the spot. The initial car in the sequence of events, a Honda Accord, also managed to leave with its occupants unharmed.