Poor visibility contributes to accident

    A dry, dusty road is believed to have contributed to a rear-end collision/accident Sunday afternoon.
    Chase County Sheriff Kevin Mueller said his office received an emergency 911 call at 3:54 p.m. regarding a motor vehicle accident involving an SUV and semi-tractor trailer.
    The accident was about a mile south of T-Junction on 333 Avenue, near the intersection of Road 736, Mueller said.
    The initial investigation indicated a 2014 Kenworth semi, driven by Scott Leibbrandt of Imperial, was pulling a fully-loaded grain trailer northbound on 333 Avenue. His cousin Carter was a passenger in the semi.
    The semi stopped on the roadway so Leibbrandt could switch out for a different vehicle, located in an adjacent wheat field, Mueller said.
    A 2011 Chevy Tahoe owned by Mark Ferguson of Imperial was also traveling northbound on 333 Avenue at the time.
    “Unfortunately, it appears that a large amount of dirt and dust put into the air behind the semi obscured the driver’s ability to see the semi that had parked,” Mueller said.
    The Tahoe collided with the rear of the grain trailer as a result. The SUV was totaled and had to be towed from the scene.
    Ferguson, who was alone in the SUV, was transported by Imperial EMS to Chase County Community Hospital with serious injuries. Occupants of the semi were not injured, according to the sheriff’s report.
    Sheriff Mueller said the investigation is still ongoing.
    The Imperial Volunteer Fire Department was also dispatched to the accident scene.