Tall corn at intersection may be to blame for crash that killed Rice Co. teen

The Rice County Sheriff says tall corn may be to blame for a crash that killed one teen near Sterling.

The two-vehicle crash happened at Avenue U and 14th Road around 11:23 a.m. on Wednesday.

The sheriff's office says a white Nissan Maxima was traveling west on Avenue U when it hit the passenger side of a red Dodge Dakota, traveling north on 14th Road.

The sheriff's office says 15-year-old Jacob Oden was a passenger in the Dodge Dakota. He was not wearing his seatbelt and was ejected. He died on the scene.

The driver of the vehicle, 17-year-old Jon Oden, was wearing his seatbelt. He was taken to the Lyons District Hospital for treatment. He has since been released.

The sheriff's office says Tom Kelly, 53, was the driver of the Nissan Maxima. He was airlifted to Via Christi St. Francis in Wichita for his injuries. He was not wearing a seatbelt.

While investigators have not declared an official cause of the accident, they say Avenue U and 14th Road is a blind intersection due to the height of corn.