Former Allen County Sheriff Bryan Murphy was taken to the hospital early Friday morning for “non-emergent” injuries he suffered in a two-vehicle accident east of LaHarpe.
Current Sheriff Anthony Maness said Murphy — who now works as a deputy sheriff in Bourbon County — was eastbound on U.S. 54, just east of LaHarpe when he was hit by a vehicle driven by a female juvenile at about 5:30 a.m.
The juvenile, whose name was not released, told deputies she became distracted by her dog in the vehicle, and failed to stop while she was southbound on 2800 Street.
The collision knocked Murphy’s vehicle — a BCSD patrol truck — into the eastbound ditch, while the juvenile’s vehicle came to a stop in the eastbound lane.
Emergency workers had to use the “jaws of life” to get a door open in order to free Murphy from his vehicle, Iola Fire Chief Corey Isbell said.
Both drivers were taken to the hospital, but neither had apparent serious injuries, Maness said.
Both were wearing seat belts.
The animal was not injured, Maness said.
Traffic was allowed to trickle by for about two hours as crews cleaned up the wreckage, with left debris scattered along the highway for several yards.
