A Lawrence man was killed and his wife and young daughter were injured in a crash Saturday in Nemaha County.
William Joseph Novotny, 35, was a passenger in a Honda CR-V driven by his wife, Taylar Deere-Novotny, 33, according to a Kansas Highway Patrol crash report.
They were westbound on U36 Highway around 11:40 a.m. Saturday, about 5 miles west of Fairview, Kansas. Their vehicle was struck by a truck driven by 37-year-old Mark Eugene Ditmars. The truck, southbound on West Road, did not stop at a stop sign and struck the CR-V broadside, according to the report.
Novotny was killed in the crash. Deere-Novotny suffered injuries that medics believed to be serious, and their 3-year-old daughter suffered minor injuries, according to the report. They were taken to an area hospital.
Ditmars and his passenger, 36-year-old Jonathan Roy Ditmars, both of Washington, Kansas, also suffered serious injuries, according to the report. They were taken to a different hospital.
All involved in the crash were wearing seat belts, and the girl was properly restrained in a child seat, according to the report.
“Those who knew Bill, always talk about how infectious of a personality he had, and the support and friendship he provided to those he loved most, has been felt throughout the community he called home,” Nicole Greenside wrote in an online fundraiser to support the family.
The fundraiser, at this link, was quickly approaching its $20,000 goal as of 4 p.m. Monday.
The Bottleneck will hold a celebration of life for “Bill” at 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8. That’s at the venue, 737 New Hampshire St. They will also collect donations for the family.
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