The Barton County Sheriff’s Office issued a news release concerning a fatal rollover that occurred Saturday, July 19, south of Ellinwood. Blake Peters, 35, of Ellinwood, was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Barton County Coroner’s Office.

According to the report, BCSO deputies responded to the scene on SE 105 Ave. near SE 20 Road around 4:45 p.m.

Upon arrival, Sheriff’s deputies located a single-vehicle rollover.

The vehicle, a 2007 GMC Yukon, had been observed leaving the city of Ellinwood at a high rate of speed. BCSO Undersheriff Steve Billinger said an Ellinwood Police officer had another vehicle stopped by the side of the road but the GMC was traveling so fast he returned to his vehicle to pursue it. Instead, when he caught up to the speeding vehicle, it had already crashed. “It’s a sad situation,” he said.

The BCSO reported Investigation at the scene indicates that the GMC was southbound on SE 105 Ave. when it failed to negotiate the curve onto SE 20 Rd. The vehicle left the roadway into an open area where it rolled multiple times. Peters was ejected from the vehicle.

The intersection was closed for about an hour while the BSCO investigated the scene. The Barton County Sheriff’s office was assisted by units from the Ellinwood Police Department and Ellinwood EMS. The Sheriff’s office believes excessive speed and alcohol were both contributing factors in the accident.

This article was modified at 12:10 p.m. on July 21 to correct the date of the accident and add other information.