Law enforcement responds to pair of rollover accidents

    A pair of accidents last week, both similar in nature, called out Chase County Sheriff’s Department officers and other emergency personnel.
    Sheriff Kevin Mueller said the accidents last Thursday and Saturday resulted in totalled pickups but no life-threatening injuries.
    Last Thursday, the sheriff’s office responded to a one-vehicle accident on Old Highway 6 near 342 Avenue. The call was received at 3:54 p.m., according to dispatch records.
    Emmitt Zuege of Imperial, 19, was driving a 2001 Ford F350, heading west on the highway when he had some sort of medical issue, Mueller reported. The vehicle went off on to the shoulder and the driver over-corrected, rolling the vehicle which ended up blocking both lanes.
    He was wearing a seat belt and was able to exit the pickup on his own.
    Zuege was transported by Imperial EMS to Chase County Community Hospital with unknown injuries. Family members reported he received stitches in his right hand, and has some knee soreness, but was treated and released at the hospital that day.
    Zuege’s vehicle was a total loss, Mueller said.
    Another rollover accident called out emergency personnel Saturday about 6:30 a.m., north of Imperial on Highway 61 between mile markers 51 and 52.
    The driver, Joan Frias, 20, of Imperial was traveling northbound when a mechanical failure apparently occurred, Mueller said. That caused the 1996 Ford F150 he was driving to enter the east ditch and back onto the highway in a sideways manner. The pickup ended up in the west ditch, after rolling once.
    The driver was unharmed and not transported for medical care, Mueller said. The vehicle was totaled.
    Imperial EMS and the Imperial Volunteer Fire Department responded to both accidents.