Seward County, Kansas (December 14, 2025) — Authorities have identified Arlis Kay De Weerd, 72, of Rock Valley, Iowa, as the passenger killed Saturday morning in a two-vehicle collision involving a pickup truck and a semi-truck on U.S. Highway 54 in Seward County. The crash occurred just before 8:30 a.m., according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.
Incident Details: Troopers report that a 2021 Ford F-350, driven by Stanley Wayne De Weerd, 73, of Rock Valley, Iowa, was traveling westbound on U.S. 54 just east of U.S. 83. At the same time, a 2022 Kenworth semi-truck driven by Emmanuel Terrell Lee Jimmerson, 41, of North Las Vegas, Nevada, was exiting the Love’s Travel Stop western entrance and initiating a left turn to travel eastbound on U.S. 54.
During that maneuver, the pickup truck struck the driver’s side of the semi. Arlis De Weerd, a passenger in the pickup, was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Hornung Mortuary. Stanley De Weerd was transported by EMS to Wesley Medical Center for treatment. Jimmerson was also taken to Southwest Medical Center for evaluation. The Kansas Highway Patrol confirmed that all three occupants were properly restrained at the time of the crash.
Investigation: The Kansas Highway Patrol continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision. Investigators will closely examine the timing and positioning of the semi-truck as it entered the highway from the travel stop, including whether the turn could be completed safely given oncoming westbound traffic.
In crashes involving left turns from private driveways or commercial entrances onto high-speed highways, investigators typically analyze sightlines, traffic gaps, and whether the turning driver accurately judged the speed and distance of approaching vehicles. Troopers will also review skid marks, debris patterns, and vehicle damage to reconstruct the sequence of events and determine if either car attempted evasive action before impact.
Event data from both vehicles may provide insight into speed, braking, and steering inputs in the moments leading up to the collision. Investigators will also consider roadway design, signage, and visibility conditions near the Love’s entrance to assess whether environmental factors contributed to the incident.
Legal Considerations: Collisions that occur when a commercial vehicle is entering or crossing a highway often raise complex liability questions. Under Kansas law, drivers entering a roadway from a private drive or business entrance must yield to traffic already traveling on the highway. If investigators determine that the semi-truck entered U.S. 54 when it was unsafe to do so, civil liability may arise for the resulting injuries and death.
For the De Weerd family, the loss of Arlis Kay is deeply painful. A wrongful death claim may allow her family to seek compensation for funeral expenses, emotional suffering, and the loss of companionship and support she provided. Stanley De Weerd, who survived with injuries, may also have the right to pursue a personal injury claim for his medical treatment and the lasting impact of the crash.
While no legal process can undo the loss, accountability can help families obtain answers and stability as they begin to navigate their grief.
I extend my deepest condolences to the De Weerd family and loved ones, and I wish a full recovery to those injured in this tragic crash.
Source: Hays Post