A 67-year-old Lecompton man died in a fatal vehicle accident Tuesday afternoon in the 900 block of North 1800 Road, known colloquially as the “Farmer’s Turnpike.”

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, Marvin W. Buzzard was driving westbound on North 1800 Road in a 2002 Ford Explorer just after 2 p.m. Tuesday when he veered left of center and sideswiped another vehicle, driven by 32-year-old Nathan Heinen, of Valley Falls.

Following the collision, Buzzard’s SUV came to rest in the middle of the roadway facing west and Heinen’s vehicle continued eastbound, stopping on the south shoulder of the road.

Buzzard, who was not wearing a seat belt, suffered fatal injuries in the crash, according to KHP. Heinen was not injured in the accident, KHP said.

The accident was still under investigation as of 7 p.m. Tuesday as officers began their fifth hour of blocking off about a mile and a half of the West Lawrence road as the KHP continued to collect evidence from the scene.

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Lt. Steve Lewis said officers were assisting with traffic control on North 1800 Road from East 1000 Road to East 850 Road as the KHP investigated the accident. The road was reopened by 8 p.m. Tuesday.

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