WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – The Russell County Sheriff’s Office says a 64-year-old Holyrood man is dead, and three others were injured following a severe thunderstorm that toppled multiple campers at Wilson State Park late Wednesday. The storm moved through the area between 11:30 p.m. and midnight. The National Weather Service issued warnings of the storm as it was producing wind gusts of 60-70 mph.
After the storm, multiple 911 calls were received about damage at the park. Numerous law enforcement agencies and fire departments responded and found several campers had been blown over,
During the search and rescue, three people were transported to Russell Regional Hospital with injuries. A man identified as Christopher Montoya was found dead in the Hell Creek Park Area of the lake. The Russell County Sheriff’s Office says an autopsy on Montoya will be held sometime Thursday.
Meanwhile, cleanup is underway at the lake. Authorities say debris may be present on roads, parks and water if you head to the lake.
The Russell County Sheriff’s Office, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Kansas Highway Patrol, Russell County EMS, Lucas Fire Department, Dorrance Fire Department and Army Corps of Engineers all responded.
The KSN Storm Track 3 Weather team was busy tracking the severe storms late Wednesday into early Thursday.
The team received a report from Ellsworth County of a house with part of the roof blown off northeast of Ellsworth. Further south and east, in McPherson, Harvey, Saline, Rice, Reno and Sedgwick counties, reports of wind gusts ranged between 60 and 80 mph. In Harvey County, there was a report of a large tree uprooted near Newton.
Storm reports received by the KSN Storm Track 3 Weather team:
68 mph winds – Russell, Russell County
70 mph wind gusts – 8 NNE Kanopolis, Ellsworth County
60 mph gust – 4 ESE Wilson, Ellsworth County
70 mph gust – 8 WNW Marquette, Ellsworth County
60 mph gust – Ellsworth, Ellsworth County
82 mph gust – 3 SW Salina, Saline County
60 mph gust – Lindsborg, McPherson County
61 mph gust – 2 W Little River, Rice County
73 mph gust – 6 ENE Kanopolis, Ellsworth County
65 mph gust – Culver, Ottawa County
75 mph gust – 3 E McPherson, McPherson County
69 mph gust – Lindsborg, McPherson County
60 mph gust – 6 ESE Inman, McPherson County
63 mph gust – 4 S Durham, Marion County
67 mph gust – 5 ESE Partridge, Reno County
76 mph gust – 1 S McPherson, Mcpherson County
72 mph gust – 1 W Canton, McPherson County
60 mph gust – Sedgwick, Harvey County
Damage – Large tree uprooted – 2 WNW Newton, Harvey County
72mph gust – 1 W Canton, McPherson County