Kevin Elliott/The Topeka Capital-Journal

 Originally published in The Topeka Capital-Journal. Reprinted with permission. See original article.

James Carlson | The Topeka Capital-Journal

Dalton L. Westphal, 16, of Carbondale, was killed in a rollover accident in southeastern Shawnee County on Saturday. The Shawnee Heights High School student died in a single-car crash near S.E. 101st and Paulen Road, Shawnee County sheriff’s officials said.

Cpl. Scott Wanamaker said Westphal was traveling north at 6:17 p.m. on S.E. Paulen when he lost control of the Pontiac passenger car he was driving and skidded across a patch of gravel. Wanamaker said the vehicle then rolled several times down a steep embankment and struck several trees and a utility pole before coming to rest about 60 feet from the roadway.

Westphal was the only occupant.

A Life Star helicopter called to the scene about 6:45 p.m. later left without transporting the victim.

Emergency responders weren’t immediately able to reach Westphal’s car due to the terrain and power lines that fell on the vehicle. Utility workers from Kaw Valley Electric were called to the scene to shut down power. Topeka police crash scene investigators were assisting in the investigation.

Wanamaker said it wasn’t known why Westphal lost control of the car. He said witnesses said the vehicle veered to one side before leaving the road.

Sheriff’s officials said the road, which appears to be solid concrete and gravel, was refinished less than a month before the crash.