Two women killed Thursday in rural Pawnee County crash

LARNED – Two people were killed in a crash on a highway in Pawnee County early Thursday morning when one driver lost control of her vehicle and drove into the path of oncoming traffic.

Sarah Jean Kemp, 28, of Nekoma, was eastbound on K-156 in a 2003 Chevrolet Suburban when the vehicle drifted onto the south shoulder and partly into the ditch, the patrol reported. When Kemp attempted to get back onto the road, she lost control and drove across the centerline into the westbound lane.

A westbound 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan driven by Melissa Denise Higginbotham, 60, of Larned, struck the Suburban on its passenger side.

Both drivers died at the scene. The crash occurred at 6:30 a.m. about 4 ½ miles west of Larned.