Benjamin D. Van Buskirk Obituary, – A teenager from Kansas tragically lost his life in a collision that occurred shortly before 2 a.m. on Saturday in Johnson County. The Kansas Highway Patrol stated that a 2010 Jeep Liberty, driven by Joselin M. Laynez Flores, a 21-year-old from Guatemala, was traveling southbound on Interstate 35 just north of Johnson Drive in Merriam in the first lane.
The Jeep collided with the rear of a 2007 Chevy Equinox, driven by Paula S. Baird, a 25-year-old from Kansas City, Kansas, which was stationary due to a previous accident. Following the collision, the Jeep veered off and hit a pedestrian, identified as Benjamin D. Van Buskirk, a 17-year-old from Olathe, who had crossed the lanes of traffic to provide assistance. Van Buskirk was a passenger in a 2008 Honda CRV, driven by Ammar M. Aljishi, a 17-year-old from Spring Hill, which was stopped on the right shoulder of the highway.
Van Buskirk was pronounced dead at the scene and taken to Forensic Medical. Baird was transported to KU Medical Center by EMS. Laynez Flores and a passenger in the Jeep were unharmed and properly restrained during the incident, as per the KHP report.
