Accident Leaves Driver Dead

Rita Sperry, 69, of Newton is dead following a one-car accident Monday morning on Meridian Road in Newton.  “This is a bad one,” said T. Walton, Harvey County Sheriff.  At about 8:45 a.m. just north of 12th street a southbound car entered a ditch, drove a few hundred feet, then struck a guard rail before stopping. The guard rail went through the car, and did injure the driver of the vehicle.  “There is no sign she braked and the car went into the guard rail,” Walton said. “We are not sure what caused the accident. There was no other traffic. For whatever reason, she went into the east ditch.”  The guard rail was partially removed in order to remove the car, and the driver, from the scene.  A one-mile stretch of Meridian St. was closed Monday morning as officials worked to remove the driver from the car, who was then taken to a mortuary. According to Walton, an autopsy will be performed as the sheriff’s office seeks a cause for the accident.  Newton Fire/EMS, Newton Police, Harvey County Road and Bridge, the Harvey County Sheriff’s Office and the Kansas Highway Patrol all responded to the accident. (By Chad Frey for The Newton Kansan, Newton Kansas.  October 20, 2014).

Rita Louise Sperry, 69, died Monday, October 20, 2014 in Newton.  She was born August 4, 1945 to Nick and Susan (Unruh) Schmidt at Goessel.  Survivors include: son, John Sperry of Rural Newton; daughter, Ann Sperry of Rural Newton; sisters, Julia (Willard) Regier of Rural Moundridge, Susan (Walden) Duerksen of Goessel, DeLome (Jerol) Schmidt of Rural Newton.  Predeceased by a brother, Otto Nick Schmidt, sister in law, Nancy Schmidt, and a infant daughter, Patrice Ann Dick.  Celebration of Life Service will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, October 24, 2014 at Tabor Mennonite Church rural Newton officiated by Pastor Phil Schmidt and Pastor Rosie Jantz.  Visitation will be from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday with family present from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.at Tabor Mennonite Church.  Memorials to The Church in care of Jost Funeral Home P.O. Box 266 Hillsboro, Kansas 67063.

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