By Jennifer Stultz
Tri-County Tribune Editor
jstultz@cherryroad.com

A fatal crash in Kiowa County last week remains under investigation as the victim, Jerry Wayne Thompson, 55, of Tidewater, Ore., was being sought in connection with a homicide investigation in the city of Kincaid in Anderson County, officials said.

Kansas Department of Transportation records state that Thompson was driving a 2009 Ford Focus when he went left of center on U.S. Highway 54 just after 9 p.m. Saturday, January 25. Troopers saw the car traveling eastbound on U.S. 54 west of Greensburg and began to conduct a traffic stop, the car pulled over to the shoulder and stopped. After the trooper made verbal contact with Thompson, he fled and a pursuit ensued.

The Kiowa County Sheriff’s office successfully deployed stop sticks on the fleeing vehicle approximately one mile west of Greensburg and the car traveled off the road into the south ditch, struck a field entrance, went airborne and rolled. Thompson was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the car. He was transported to a local hospital and pronounced deceased. Investigators recovered a loaded firearm from the crash scene.

Thompson’s next of kin was notified by a Lincoln Co. Oregon Deputy of his demise the following day, January 26, 2025, according to KDOT records.