Janee Umbarger Obituary, Death – A tragic two-vehicle collision on U.S. Highway 169 in Neosho County, Kansas, claimed the life of a Chanute resident on Thursday morning. The crash occurred around 8:00 a.m., just north of 70th Road on the highway.
According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, a 55-year-old woman, identified as Janee Umbarger of Chanute, was driving a Nissan Kicks northbound on Highway 169 when, for reasons not yet determined, the vehicle veered into the southbound lane. A GMC Sierra, driven by a 76-year-old man from Piqua, was heading south on the same highway and attempted to steer left in an effort to avoid the impending collision. Unfortunately, despite the effort to avoid the crash, the two vehicles collided head-on, though not directly at the front, but offset toward the center of the road.
The impact of the crash was severe, and tragically, Janee Umbarger, the driver of the Nissan Kicks, was pronounced dead at the scene. Emergency responders rushed to the location but were unable to save her life. The driver of the GMC Sierra, who was later identified as a 76-year-old man from Piqua, was injured in the crash but survived. EMS personnel transported him to Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center for treatment. Fortunately, his injuries were suspected to be minor.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident. While the cause of the crash remains unclear, toxicology samples have been obtained as part of the routine procedure following fatal accidents to determine if any contributing factors, such as impairment, played a role in the crash.
The incident has left the community in shock, and while the authorities continue their investigation, the loss of Janee Umbarger has deeply impacted the people of Chanute. The authorities have not released additional details about the crash at this time, and they are awaiting further analysis to help determine the precise factors that led to the fatal collision.