4.8.21
At approximately 7:46 a.m. on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, a two-vehicle injury accident occurred at 158 Road & US 75 Highway.
Potawatomi Tribal Fire Department was dispatched along with multiple surrounding agencies. Potawatomi Tribal Fire units were the first fire/EMS apparatus to arrive on scene followed shortly by Hoyt Fire, Jackson County EMS, and Mayetta Fire. PTFD responded with two advanced life support ambulances, a rescue engine, and an advanced life support SUV.
Potawatomi Tribal Fire personnel initially found multiple critically injured patients being attended by PBPN administrative and Health Center employees, along with two employees from Stormont Vail and one Washburn University nursing student.
Working as a team, the responding agencies quickly and competently cared for all four patients involved while preparing them for transport. Tribal Fire ambulances transported three critically injured patients from the crash scene to Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka.
The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation wishes to thank all the responding agencies listed, the bystanders who stopped to help, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputies that responded, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the on-duty Jackson County Sheriff Dispatchers, and the Prairie Band Tribal Police Department and Dispatch for their assistance and teamwork during this critical incident.
The accident ultimately resulted in the loss of life of Rachael McCoy, 29, a Holton resident and employee of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation.
“We are deeply saddened by this loss of life and the impact it will have on her family and our community,” stated Chairman Joseph Rupnick, “and we are also grateful for the support of all who were directly involved in assisting during this critical incident.”