A stretch of U.S. Highway 24 north of Lawrence is fast earning a reputation as a dangerous and deadly road.

Two cars collided Tuesday on U.S. 24 near Midland Junction, sending two people to Lawrence Memorial Hospital for treatment. The accident came less than two weeks after a head-on collision near Midland Junction killed one person and left another critically injured.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, Tuesday’s accident occurred when a 1990 Pontiac driven by Galen G. Miller, 79, Lawrence, attempted to turn left and was struck by an eastbound 1990 Chevrolet pickup truck driven by Steven L. Gray, 44, Lawrence.

Both Miller and Gray were treated and released after being taken by ambulance to Lawrence Memorial.

On Nov. 13, on a curve 1/4 of a mile southeast of the junction, Kansas University professor emeritus Paul V. Gump 83, Oskaloosa, was killed in a head-on collision. His wife, Natalie Gump, 77, was critically injured and remains at the University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, Kan.

Paul Gump was driving eastbound when his car crossed the center line and collided with a car driven by Vera D. Neal, 70, Williamsburg. Neal was treated and released at LMH.

Spokesmen with the Kansas Department of Transportation were not available Tuesday night to comment about safety aspects of the road.

Wreckage of a two-vehicle collision blocks U.S. Highway 24 near Midland Junction north of Lawrence. Two people were taken Tuesday to Lawrence Memorial Hospital after the crash, which occurred near the site of a fatality accident two weeks ago.

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