Kansas City, KS (May 28, 2026) – A man from Columbus, Ohio, was taken to a hospital after a two-vehicle accident early Thursday morning on northbound Interstate 35, just west of Mission Road in Wyandotte County. The collision was reported at 6:03 a.m.
A 2026 Chevrolet Traverse and a 2023 Kia Telluride were involved. After the two vehicles made contact, the Chevrolet spun to the left and overturned.
Both drivers were alone in their respective vehicles: the driver of the Chevrolet, Rico Shareed Garth, 34, was taken to a nearby hospital with suspected minor injuries. The Kansas Highway Patrol noted that Garth was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the wreck.
The driver of the Kia, Ellen Suzanne Connell, 37, of Eudora, was not hurt. The patrol confirmed she was wearing her seatbelt.
The cause of the collision is still being examined, and a full report is expected once the review is complete. We wish Rico Garth a quick and full recovery.
How Does Seatbelt Use Affect Injury Outcomes in Rollover Crashes?
Rollover crashes are among the most dangerous types of road collisions, and seatbelt use is one of the strongest predictors of whether someone walks away or ends up seriously hurt. When a vehicle rolls, unbelted occupants are at high risk of being thrown within the cabin or ejected entirely, both of which dramatically increase the chance of severe injury.
Studies consistently show that seatbelts reduce the risk of death in rollover crashes by roughly half. Belted drivers and passengers are held in place, which allows the vehicle’s safety systems, like airbags and reinforced door frames, to work as intended. An unbelted person, by contrast, becomes a moving object inside the vehicle, often colliding with interior surfaces before the car even comes to rest.
