A Lawrence woman who was a secretary at Eudora High School died Wednesday afternoon of injuries suffered in a head-on collision about a mile west of Lawrence on U.S. Highway 40.

Two other people — including the woman’s infant daughter — were injured in the Wednesday morning crash.

The Kansas Highway Patrol identified the victim as Tisha L. Rheuport, 31. She was taken by air ambulance to KU Med, Kansas City, Kan., where she later died.

Eudora school officials, however, said Tisha’s last name was Downing and that she was a secretary at Eudora High School.

Downing’s daughter, Francesca Downing, 6 weeks old, was in the 1997 Dodge van Tisha Downing was driving. The baby was taken by Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical to Lawrence Memorial Hospital, where she was treated and released to her father, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Eudora school officials identified the father as Ron Downing of Lawrence.

“This is a real shock to everybody,” EHS principal Dale Sample said. “She was a great lady.”

The accident occurred about 10:20 a.m., when an eastbound 1986 Chevrolet pickup truck crossed into the westbound lane on a hill to pass another vehicle and slammed into Downing’s westbound vehicle. The crash site was more than a half-mile west of the intersection of U.S. 40 and Kansas Highway 10.

Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical personnel work to gain access to Charley R. Davis, 18, Topeka, whose pickup collided head-on with a van on U.S. Highway 40 west of Lawrence. The driver of the van, 31-year-old Tisha Downing, died at KU Med, Kansas City, Kan., from injuries in the accident, which occurred about 10:20 a.m. Wednesday. Her daughter, 6-week-old Francesca Downing, was treated at Lawrence Memorial Hospital and released. Davis was listed in fair condition Wednesday night at KU Med.

Charley R. Davis, 18, Topeka, driver of the pickup, also was injured. A second helicopter called to the scene took Davis to KU Med. He was listed in fair condition Wednesday night.

Tisha Downing had only worked at the high school since August, Sample and Eudora Schools Supt. Marty Kobza said.

Sample and Kobza declined to say any more Wednesday night about Tisha Downing because they said they hadn’t yet talked to her family.

No statistics were available late Wednesday from state officials on the frequency of accidents on the twisting, hilly highway that runs from Lawrence to Topeka. There also were no totals available for fatalities this year in Douglas County.

But highway patrol troopers commonly investigate similar accidents on two-lane highways throughout the state, said Patrol 2nd Lt. John Eichkorn.

“That’s why it’s so important to watch the pavement markers and just don’t be driving to the left side of the road when you are not supposed to pass,” Eichkorn said.

¢ 6News video: A head-on collision results in a fatality

No information was available Wednesday night about possible charges against Davis.

Assisting the Highway Patrol at the scene were Douglas County Sheriff’s officers, Lawrence Police, and the Wakarusa Township Fire Department.