Woman charged in crash that killed 3 after Kan. high school title game

SABETHA, Kan. (AP) — A woman has been arrested in a head-on crash that killed the mother, sister and uncle of two Kansas high school football players as the family returned home from watching the boys’ team win a state football championship.

Perez-Marquez-photo Douglas Co. Department of Corrections

The Jackson County, Kansas, Sheriff’s Office says 48-year-old Maria Perez-Marquez is awaiting extradition to Kansas. She was arrested Thursday in Omaha, Nebraska, on an involuntary manslaughter warrant in the November 2017 deaths of 42-year-old Carmen Ukele, 11-year-old Marlee Ukele and 62-year-old Stephen Ukele.

Coach Garrett Michael says brothers Tanner and Carson Ukele were pulled off the Sabetha High School football team bus after a celebratory dinner. A trooper later told them their father had been hurt and the others had died. Perez-Marquez was passing another vehicle before the crash.

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JACKSON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal Kansas crash have filed charges against the driver.

Carmen and her daughter Marlee photo courtesy Popkess Mortuary

Marie Perez-Marquez, 48, Omaha, has been charged with 3 counts of involuntary manslaughter, reckless driving and aggravated battery for the November 25, 2017 crash, according to Jackson County Attorney Shawna Miller.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Chevy Equinox driven by Perez-Marquez, was southbound on U. S. 75 just north of 318 Road near Holton.

The driver attempted to pass another vehicle, swerved to the shoulder to avoid a collision and struck a northbound 2008 Chrysler Town and Country driven by Carmen K. Ukele, 42, Sabetha, head-on.

Ukele and passengers in the Chevy Marlee G. Ukele, 11 and Stephen M. Ukele, 62, all of Sabetha, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Another passenger in the Chrysler Lee F. Ukele, 59, Sabetha, and Perez-Marquez were transported to KU Medical Center. A passenger in the Chevy Rosalao G. Perez, 29, St. Joseph, MO., was transported to a Topeka Hospital and later transferred to KU Medical Center.

Ukele and family were returning home from watching Tanner and Carson Ukele play in the Sabetha High School football 3A state championship game.