Pittsburg, KS (June 11, 2026) – Five people were taken to hospitals following a collision between a passenger car and a semitrailer on US-69 south of Pittsburg on Tuesday evening, June 9. The crash occurred at approximately 7:49 p.m. at the intersection of US-69 and Scammon Rd in Cherokee County.
According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, a 2019 Ford Fiesta was traveling west on Scammon Rd when its driver failed to yield at a stop sign and entered the path of a southbound 2026 International semitrailer. The two vehicles collided in the intersection.
The driver of the Ford, 34-year-old James A. Clemens of McCune, was taken to Mercy Hospital in Joplin, Missouri, with serious injuries. Two passengers in the Ford, Christina S. Wood, 45, and 2-year-old Veda Clemens, both of McCune, were also taken to Mercy Hospital in Pittsburg. The patrol reported no apparent injuries for those passengers.
The semitrailer driver, 46-year-old Nathan J. Swenson of Audubon, Iowa, was not injured. A passenger in the truck, 29-year-old Mariah K. Galloway of McCune, was taken to Mercy Hospital in Pittsburg with serious injuries. All occupants were reported to have been wearing safety restraints.
The circumstances surrounding the collision continue to be examined by investigators.
We are thinking of those injured and wish them a full recovery.
Why Stop-Sign Intersection Crashes Can Lead to Serious Injuries
Intersections controlled by stop signs require drivers to accurately judge the speed and distance of approaching traffic before proceeding. When a vehicle enters a highway without sufficient clearance, collisions can occur at relatively high speeds.
Crashes involving semitrailers are frequently severe due to the substantial size and weight differences between commercial trucks and passenger vehicles. Even when occupants are properly restrained, the forces generated in these collisions can result in significant injuries.
Investigators reviewing intersection crashes typically examine traffic controls, vehicle paths, visibility, and witness accounts. Road conditions, driver actions, and vehicle damage patterns can also help determine how the collision occurred and whether contributing factors were present.
