Jan 04, 2021

Sheriff: Alcohol a factor in accident that injured Manhattan woman

Posted Jan 04, 2021 3:45 PM

ASSARIA — A Manhattan woman was injured when she was struck by a vehicle on Old Highway 81 near Assaria early Friday morning.

Just before 3a.m. Jan. 1, emergency personnel were sent to South Old Highway 81 approximately a half-mile north of Assaria Road for the report of a pedestrian who walked out into the highway being struck by a northbound vehicle, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan.

The driver Joseph Fraizer, 32, of Salina, who was in a 2003 Honda Odyssey, swerved in an attempted to avoid hitting Cheyenne Hamilton, 22, of Manhattan, but ended up striking her.

EMS transported her to Salina Regional Health Center with serious injuries to her legs.

As for how Hamilton ended up on the highway, Soldan said that Hamilton had an argument with a male friend. He stopped the vehicle they were in, she got out, and he left.  Soldan said he believed alcohol played a role in Hamilton's behavior.