Forbes Field airman dies in Kansas crash; DUI and murder charges pending for driver
A Jefferson County crash Saturday night sent one driver to jail and the other to the morgue, with authorities accusing an allegedly drunk or drugged driver of killing a Kansas Air National Guard airman.
Staff Sgt. Cheyanne Branson of the 190th Air Refueling Wing died in the crash, military officials reported.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported that Branson was driving a 2016 Chevy Cruze on US-24 highway at around 10:48 p.m. when a 2016 Chevy Silverado crossed the centerline into oncoming traffic. The vehicles collided head-on a few miles north of Lawrence.
The 23-year-old Branson, of Diana, Texas, died at the scene.
Troopers identified the driver of the pickup as Manuel Enriquez, 35, of Kansas City, Missouri. He had no apparent injury.
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Jefferson County Sheriff's Office records show Enriquez was booked into jail about three hours after the crash on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, second-degree murder and driving on the wrong side of the road.
Branson had served for more than four years with the Kansas Air National Guard as a career development specialist, according to the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. She was stationed at Forbes Field Air National Guard Base in Topeka.
"Our hearts are with her family, friends, loved ones and fellow Guardsmen," said Col. Brian Budden, commander of the 190th ARW. "Cheyanne was an extraordinary Airman who has made an impact on so many around her. I called her one of our ‘rock-stars.'"
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas Air National Guard airman dies in alleged DUI crash by Lawrence
