U.S. Highway 59 claimed another life Saturday afternoon in Douglas County.

Jeannie M. Eye, 40, Baldwin, was killed in a head-on collision involving a car and a pickup truck around 4 p.m. about half a mile north of the Franklin County line, according to a Kansas Highway Patrol report.

Her daughter, Danielle Y. Eye, 11, was a passenger in the car and was in serious condition Saturday evening at Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Mo.

Also injured was the driver of the truck, Colt S. Daniels, 18, Long Lane, Mo. Daniels was in critical condition Saturday at a Kansas City-area hospital, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.

Daniels was southbound on the highway when his truck crossed the center line and struck Eye’s car, said Highway Patrol Trooper E.R. Buttler.

The car spun into the ditch along the east side of the highway. The truck came to a stop facing north.

Two air ambulance helicopters were called and landed in a field just west of the road.

Russell Williams was driving his semitrailer southbound on U.S. 59 when he stopped about 100 yards from the wreck scene.

“The car had just come to a stop in the ditch,” said Williams, owner of Williams Trucking Co., Kansas City, Kan. “I’ve been driving for 21 years, and I’ve seen a lot of accidents. I didn’t think anyone would survive this one.”

Buttler said she was investigating the possibility that alcohol was involved in the accident.

Douglas County Sheriff’s officers, Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical and Willow Springs Township Fire Department assisted Highway Patrol troopers at the scene.

Sheriff’s officers and Baldwin Police blocked off U.S. 59 at the U.S. Highway 56 junction. Franklin County Sheriff’s officers blocked traffic at North 1 Road.

The accident rate on U.S. 59 is 25 percent higher than on similar highways elsewhere in the state, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation.

During a recent five-year period, the stretch between Lawrence and Ottawa averaged an accident every 4.9 days, an injury every 9.5 days and a fatality every 5.4 months.