The investigation into an accident Saturday in Sumner County that claimed the lives of two children in the same family will not be complete for another 60 to 90 days, according to Sumner County Attorney Kassie McEntire.
“At that point, we’ll review charges,” McEntire said Tuesday morning.
The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating the collision on the Sumner-Sedgwick county line near Peck. The preliminary report indicates that Lanny Carter of Salina ran a stop sign at K-53 and U.S. 81 and smashed into a van being driven by Debra Alexander, 37. Her 11-year-old son, T.J., and 10-year-old niece, Kat Tredway were killed.
Debra Alexander remained in fair condition Tuesday at Via Christi Regional Medical Center – St. Francis Campus in Wichita. The condition of her 10-year-old daughter Michaela, has been upgraded from fair to good condition, according to a medical center spokeswoman. Carter was not injured, according to the highway patrol.
Debra Alexander and her family are visiting from Houghton, La. She is the sister of Devena Tredway, whose husband, Michael, is a Wellington police officer. Michael Tredway’s father, Bill Tredway, is an Oxford police officer and just retired from the First Responder unit after 20 years of rolling out for traffic accidents and fires. Bill Tredway’s wife, Vickie, is employed at Wal-Mart in Winfield.
Linda Terry, 60, of Wellington, the mother of Debra Alexander and Devena Tredway, was also in the vehicle involved in the accident. She was treated at St. Francis and then released.
The family was headed to a family event in Wichita. Mike Tredway was in a separate car and left a little later than the car with his daughter. His car was detoured because of the accident but he was unaware at the time that his family was involved.
Funds for the family have been established at Hawks Funeral Home and the First National Bank in Wellington.
