Uniontown accident victims identified

Herald-Tribune

Two local residents are dead and one is injured after an accident in Uniontown on Thursday.

The accident occurred at 3:35 p.m., but names were not released on the Kansas Highway Patrol Crash Log until after presstime. A semi flatbed truck was northbound on Kansas Highway 3 and a General Public Transportation van was southbound on K3. Scott said the van attempted a left turn into Uniontown, in front of the semi, Master Trooper Jeff Scott said.

After the vehicles collided, the semi drove into the east ditch on K3 and the van was knocked into the west ditch and caught fire, he said. The Kansas Highway Patrol Crash Log said the flat bed trailer was empty.

The van driver, Sara S. McClure, 24, of Fort Scott, and passenger Melony A. Beerbower, 28, of Uniontown, were killed. Passenger Joshua W. Holder, 30, was flown by medical helicopter to Freeman Health Systems in Joplin where a spokeswoman said he was listed in fair condition Friday afternoon.

The driver of the semi, 48, of McCune, was transported to Mercy Health Center where he was treated and released, said Christina Rockhold, regional marketing & communication specialist media relations~Mercy Central Communities.

Cheney Witt Funeral Chapel is handling arrangements for Beerbower. Pastor Marty DeWitt will conduct funeral services at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 13 in the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Private family burial will follow in the Uniontown Cemetery.

Arrangements for McClure are pending with Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home in Fort Scott.

Agencies on the scene were the Kansas Highway Patrol, Bourbon County Sheriff's Office, Bourbon County District 3 fire departments, the Fort Scott Fire Department and Mercy EMS.