KIOWA COUNTY —The Kansas Highway Patrol investigating a fatal car crash during a weekend pursuit have identified the victim who died as Jerry Wayne Thompson.
Thompson and the car were being sought as part of a homicide investigation in Anderson County, according to a media release from the KHP.
Just after 9p.m. Saturday, troopers saw the car traveling eastbound on U.S. 54 west of Greensburg. A troopers began to conduct a traffic stop, the car pulled over to the shoulder and stopped. After the trooper made verbal contact with Thompson, he fled and a pursuit ensued.
The Kiowa County Sheriff's office successfully deployed stop sticks on the fleeing vehicle approximately one mile west of Greensburg. The car traveled off the road into the south ditch, struck a field entrance, went airborne and rolled. Thompson was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the car. He was transported to a local hospital and pronounced deceased. Investigators recovered a loaded firearm from the crash scene.
The KHP Critical Accident Response Team responded to the scene and is investigating. The homicide is under investigation in Anderson County.