9200 NW 12th – Newton /
Harvey County authorities have decided not to file charges against the motorist who hit and killed a Newton teacher thought to be jogging near Newton on Tuesday afternoon. Harvey County Undersheriff Todd Hanchett called the collision that killed 28-year-old Crystal Stauffer “an unfortunate accident.” The crash is being blamed on the driver – a 40-year-old Halstead woman – glancing away from the road to roll up a window “after having dust blown into her car by a passing vehicle,” Hanchett said in the news release. “When the driver looked up, she had no time to respond and stop from hitting Stauffer,” Hanchett wrote. He added: “No charges are being filed at this time.” Authorities said earlier this week that Stauffer was struck about 4 p.m. Tuesday on Northwest 12th, between Meridian and West. The Halstead woman’s vehicle was westbound on the paved road, which is frequented by bikers and runners, at the time. Stauffer was taken by ambulance to Newton Medical Center, where she died. Stauffer, a physical education teacher at Newton’s Santa Fe 5/6 Center, was “an energetic, vibrant young lady” who was well-liked by students, school principal George Leary said Wednesday. She was married last summer and finished her master’s degree in education this spring. Her funeral is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Monday at Salem United Methodist Church, 115 Old Main St. in Newton. Visitation will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Petersen Family Funeral Home, 215 N. Main in Newton. (By Amy Leiker for The Newton Kansan, Newton Kansas. June 6, 2014).
Crystal R.(Hammond) Stauffer, 28, died on June 3, 2014 in Newton, Kansas. Crystal was born on October 5, 1985 in Topeka, Kansas to Jerry and Lillian (Eastwood) Hammond. She was a 2009 graduate of Emporia State University and recently received her Masters Degree in Education from Baker College. Crystal was married to Andrew Stauffer in July of 2013 in Topeka, Kansas. He survives in the home. Crystal was a physical education teacher at Santa Fe Middle School for the fifth and sixth grade. She had completed her fourth year of service at Santa Fe Middle School. Crystal had a big smile and loved to tease in a fun way. She was a very loyal, caring person and would go out of her way to help friends and others. She loved children, her students, especially her nephews and nieces, and longed to have children of her own. Andrew and Crystal attended the Newton Christian Church and their faith was very important to both of them. She is survived by her husband: Andrew Stauffer; parents: Jerry and Lillian Hammond; sister: Sarah Claspill and husband, Eric; brother: Charles Hammond; Nephews: Chase and Ryan Claspill; and a host of aunts, uncles and nieces. Funeral services are scheduled for 9:30 AM, Monday, June 9th at Salem United Methodist Church of Newton. A private family burial will be held in Topeka following the service in Newton. A memorial service will be held at 4:30 PM, on Monday, June 9th at the Topeka Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas. A visitation time is scheduled from 1:00 to 5:00 PM on Sunday, June 8, 2005 at Petersen Funeral Home in Newton, Kansas. In lieu of flowers ,the family has established the Scholarship Fund for Church Camp, in care of the Newton Christian Church or the Topeka Baptist Church. (Petersen Family Funeral Home, Newton Kansas. June 4, 2014).