Student critically injured after falling 70 feet in effort to avoid incoming vehicle

GoFundMe page says the student sustained multiple fractures, but is recovering.

Photo courtesy of the Riley County Police Department

A female student sustained critical injuries after falling 70 feet from a bridge to avoid an incoming vehicle Friday night, according to KSN. The accident, which occurred on Kansas Highway 18 near Ogden, was part of a four-vehicle crash.

The student, Kyra Kinnison, junior in animal science, was on her way to Salina with her boyfriend when the accident occurred, according to a close friend of Kinnison who spoke with the two after the accident. The friend said the pair were traveling in separate vehicles when a pallet of insulation fell from a large truck, causing her boyfriend to swerve to avoid debris. 

After his vehicle came to a stop, another struck its side, prompting Kinnison to pull off the highway and exit her vehicle. 

Upon exiting, an additional approaching vehicle began swerving to avoid debris from the crash, causing Kinnison to jump backwards. Kinnison miscalculated her jump and fell from the bridge near the East Riley Avenue off-ramp, striking a tree on the way to the ground. 

Read more at https://kstatecollegian.com/2026/09/27/student-critically-injured-after-falling-70-feet-in-effort-to-avoid-incoming-vehicle/