A Baxter Springs man was killed Thursday afternoon when the vehicle he was driving struck a road milling machine east of Ark City on U.S. 166 Highway, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.
72-year-old Billy D. Watson Jr. was dead at the scene of the accident, which occurred around 3:20 p.m. just west of 256th Rd. on 166. The highway patrol report said Watson Jr. was westbound in a 1973 Ford Ranchero when he side swiped a street sweeper, lost control of the vehicle and struck the road mill.
He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the report.
The accident, which occurred in an area near Cowley State Fishing Lake where a project is underway, closed the roadway so that investigation and clean up could occur. Next of kin has been notified.
KSOK News reports that a witness to the accident said the man was travelling at a high rate of speed.