Emergency personnel watch from Highway 14 as the white smashed semi tractor cab continues to smolder (lower right) in the east ditch. In this picture, most of the tires have burned and a large hole can be seen in the tanker. Debris was scattered to the east in the adjoining pasture.
A fatality accident occurred on the Highway 14 curve south of Superior early last Wednesday afternoon. To the photographer, it appeared a semi-truck pulling two pup tankers of used oil was traveling south when the accident occurred. One tanker blocked both lanes. The other tanker exploded near the overturned tractor in the east ditch. Neighbors reported hearing shotgun type sounds. They concluded the sounds were tires popping as the fire burned.
A portion of an oil tanker blocked both lanes of Highway 14 south of Superior early last Wednesday afternoon as emergency personnel from Jewell County arrive from the south and Superior Emergency personnel are on the north side of the accident.
Many area residents were glad when Highway 14 south of Superior opened again this week after a fatality accident closed the road for several hours last Wednesday. Semi loads of grain trickle into Superior grain handling facilities the year around and the dusty side roads are narrow, hazardous and confusing. Above, a large wrecker removes a damaged oil tanker from the roadway. Later, the wreckage in the grader ditch was removed. It was Thursday before both lanes opened to traffic.
Scott Sell, a 50-year-old truck driver from Hastings was killed in a one-vehicle accident last Wednesday afternoon. He lost control of double-trailer truck he was driving on Highway 14 south of Superior.
The accident happened about 1.5 miles south of the stateline at about 12:45 p.m.
The south-bound truck caught fire and heavy black smoke was seen rising from the accident scene as emergency responders sped to the scene. Observers in the area reported hearing the vehicle's tires exploding.
Barricades were placed blocking Highway 14 at the stateline and at North Shore Road. Drivers were encouraged to detour through Webber.
The road was opened to one-way traffic on Thursday but flagmen were still on duty Friday as recovery and remediation efforts were underway.
The truck was owned by a waste oil recovery firm and thought to have been hauling used oil.
A number of emergency agencies responded to the accident scene including the Superior Volunteer Fire Department, Mankato Fire Department, Superior Police Department, Superior Rescue Squad, Jewell County Emergency Medical Services, Jewell County Sheriff's Department, Kansas Highway Patrol, Nuckolls and Jewell county emergency management officers, Hastings Haz-Mat team and the Kansas Department of Transportation.
According to the Kansas Highway Patrol accident report, the south bound truck first went off the west side of the road, then came back onto the highway separated and a portion went into the east ditch and caught fire. One of rig's trailer tanks overturned on the highway blocking both lanes.
A skidsteer was brought in to create a dam and contain the liquid flowing from the truck.
The truck tractor was a 2014 Peterbuilt registered in Wyoming The 1984 model trailer was registered in Idaho.
The driver was known by several people with ties to the local area.
The deceased was born Aug. 11, 1969, in Hastings to Charles and Joyce Sell. He graduated from Hastings Senior High School and attended Central Community College.
He married Tammy Marquardt on June 6, 1982. At the time of his death, he was employed by Tri-State Oil Reclaimers of Cheyenne, Wyo. He was a member of Grace United Methodist Church.
Survivors include his wife and two children.
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