Seward County — The quiet stretch of U.S. Highway 83 near the Liberal Animal Shelter turned deadly just after 3 a.m. Sunday when a northbound 1999 Ford F-150 ran up onto a curb, fishtailed and rolled before coming to rest facing south. Emergency crews rushed both occupants to a local hospital.
Twenty-two-year-old Elijio Beltran of Liberal was the passenger and was transported to the hospital, where he later died from his injuries. The driver, a 25-year-old man from Liberal, was also taken to the hospital with suspected serious injuries; officials have not released his name.
Kansas Highway Patrol investigators said the pickup left the roadway for an unknown reason, struck a curb, and began to fishtail, then rolled an undetermined number of times. KHP reported that neither occupant was wearing a seatbelt.
Authorities continue to investigate the crash and have not released additional details about contributing factors such as impairment, speed, or mechanical failure. The single-vehicle wreck remains under active review by the Kansas Highway Patrol.
Neighbors and first responders described the scene as chaotic in the hours after the wreck, with emergency crews working quickly in the darkness to stabilize the injured and secure the vehicle. The nearby community is mourning a young life lost and hoping for answers as the probe continues.
Family and friends of Beltran are being notified; local officials have not announced arrangements. Law enforcement asks anyone with information or dashcam footage from the U.S. Highway 83 corridor around 3 a.m. to contact the Kansas Highway Patrol.
This crash is another reminder of the risks of unbelted travel on rural highways, where single-vehicle rollovers often have the most severe outcomes. Investigators will release more information as it becomes available.
