A driver fled the scene Thursday evening after two vehicles collided near Railroad Ave. and Patton Road, south of Great Bend, Sheriff Brian Bellendir said. Two people were injured, with one going to a Wichita hospital.
The Barton County Sheriff’s Office is looking for Timothy Chism, 38, for possible charges of felony leaving the scene of an accident as well as other crimes.
Sheriff Brian Bellendir said deputies were notified of an injury crash in the 5600 block of Railroad Ave., just south of the Great Bend city limits, around 8:45 p.m.
“Investigation at the scene indicates a blue 2008 Dodge Caravan was westbound, operated by the driver who fled (later identified as Chism),” Bellendir reported. It crossed left of center and struck a 2012 Chevrolet Equinox operated by Amanda Staub of Hudson.
Staub and a passenger in the Chism vehicle, Mary Schlotthauer of Great Bend, both received injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening, Bellendir said. Staub was transported to the University of Kansas Health System - Great Bend campus, and was later transported to a Wichita hospital. Schlotthauer was treated at the scene and declined transportation to the hospital.
As of Friday afternoon, the sheriff’s office was still looking for Chism. Bellendir provided a 2021 booking photo, noting Chism has been previously booked into the Barton County Jail 52 times and was on Community Corrections at the time of the accident.
A more recent photo of Chism was found on the Kansas Department of Corrections’ website KASPER – Kansas Adult Supervised Population Electronic Repository. It describes Chism as a white male with brown eyes and black hair, 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing 172 pounds. He has previous convictions in Ellis and Barton County for crimes that include lewd and lascivious behavior, misdemeanor theft, drug possession, criminal possession of a weapon and drug possession with intent to distribute.
Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Timothy Chism is asked to call 911 or Crime Stoppers, 620-792-1300.
