BUCHANAN COUNTY — One person died in an accident just before noon Thursday in Buchanan County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Honda Civic driven by Jonathan R. Turner, 25, Atchison, was southbound on U.S. 59 one half mile east of Winthrop.

The driver attempted to turn east onto private property and failed to yield to northbound traffic. A northbound 2015 Chevy Traverse driven by Kirk L. Kloepper, 55, Effingham, Kansas, struck the Honda.

A passenger in the Honda Lonnie J. Elmore, 50, St. Joseph, was pronounced dead at the scene. Turner was transported to Mosaic Life Care.

Kloepper and a passenger Laurie A. Kloepper, 55, Effingham, were transported to the hospital in Atchison with minor injuries. Elmore was not wearing a seat belt, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol

BROWN COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just before 9a.m. Thursday in Brown County.

The Kansas highway Patrol reported a 2012 Freightliner semi driven by Belal Saed Haraz, 34, Kansas City, MO., was eastbound on U.S. 36 at Prairie Road. The driver lost control of vehicle and struck a bridge structure.

Haraz was transported to the Hiawatha Hospital with minor injuries. He was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

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UPDATE (2:10 p.m.) – According to MoDOT, the Kansas Highway Patrol has reported that U.S. Route 36 westbound in Kansas has reopened after a crash five miles east of Hiawatha.

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ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – U.S. Route 36 westbound in Kansas is closed due to a crash.

According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, crews from the Kansas Highway Patrol reported the crash is five miles east of Hiawatha and they are awaiting a crane from Topeka to clear the scene. The road could be closed for three to four hours or more. Motorists should seek an alternate route.

For more information, visit www.modot.org and view the online Traveler Information Map. The Traveler Information Map has links to surrounding states’ DOTs, including Kansas. In addition, MoDOT provides updated information on Twitter @MoDOTNorthwest and Facebook at www.facebook.com/MoDOTNWDistrict.

An opportunity for northwest Missouri residents to travel to the capitol and meet legislators is coming up next month.

Lily White is the Maryville Chamber of Commerce Director and the Nodaway County Coordinator with Great Northwest Day at the Capitol.

White said this is the 16th year of Great Northwest Day, which is a 19-county cooperative and grassroots effort.

“We get together, every single February, and go down to Jeff City,” White said. “It’s a way for us to communicate, both with our legislators, but also with legislators from other, more urbanized areas, to tell them what’s really going on in rural Missouri and give them a person to think about when they’re voting.”

White said several hundred people typically go on the trip each year to visit with legislators and highlight priorities and what is going on in their communities.

White said, for those who have never gone to the capitol or haven’t been back since high school, she encourages them to consider attending Great Northwest Day.

“On those trips, you’re not yet realizing how much the government affects your everyday life and you’re also not realizing that these elected officials… they’re also just people,” White said. “People going (to Jefferson City) sometimes have this exaggerated picture of them in their minds but they’re really easygoing and it’s very easy to sit down and have a coffee with them and talk. For me, going down and seeing Jeff City is a reminder that every single person in our state can affect the government and can affect what’s happening there on a daily basis.”

Wednesday, Jan. 23, is the last day for early registration for Great Northwest Day. The trip takes place February 5 – 6.

You can find more information and your county coordinator at greatnorthwestday.com.