One-vehicle accident sends two men to area hospitals

Two men were flown to area hospitals after a one-vehicle accident early Saturday west of Valley Falls. A 22-year-old Valley Falls man, Sterling D. Shields, was driving east on Kansas Highway 16 shortly after midnight when his 2001 Ford Pickup left the roadway. He over corrected, and his vehicle rolled multiple times and ignited into flames, according to a Kansas Highway Patrol Report. He was life-flighted to Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center in Topeka. An occupant of the truck, 21-year-old Oskaloosa man Sean Berry-Burne, was life-flighted to Kansas University Hospital in Kansas City, where he was listed in fair condition Saturday night. Two other occupants went to Stormont-Vail in personal vehicles for what are believed to be minor injuries. The condition of Shields was not immediately available Saturday night.