Auriana K. Davis and Myron B. Wolken Obituary, Death – Two Killed in Franklin County Crash
The Franklin County, Kansas, community is mourning the deaths of Auriana K. Davis, 18, and Myron B. Wolken, 73, who were killed in a four-vehicle crash on U.S. 59 north of Richmond.
The fatal collision happened shortly after 9:30 p.m. Friday, October 2, 2026, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol. Four vehicles were involved in the crash, which resulted in the deaths of Davis and Wolken and sent three other people to area hospitals for treatment.
The crash has left two families grieving while authorities continue working to establish the circumstances that led to the deadly collision.
Auriana K. Davis Killed at 18
Davis, 18, of Kansas City, Missouri, was driving a 2021 Kia Forte northbound on U.S. 59 when the collision occurred.
According to the Kansas Highway Patrol’s preliminary investigation, Davis attempted to pass two vehicles traveling in the same direction. Those vehicles were a 2014 Chevrolet Cruze driven by Emma E. Franklin, 18, of Uniontown, and a 2013 Ford Escape driven by Jolee R. Olsen, 20, of Lawrence.
The Kia then collided head-on with a southbound 2008 Cadillac DTS driven by Wolken.
Davis was pronounced dead at the scene. Her death at just 18 years old has brought an especially painful loss to those who knew her, as her life was cut short in a sudden nighttime collision.
Myron B. Wolken Dies at 73
Wolken, 73, of Beloit, was behind the wheel of the Cadillac DTS when it was struck by the Kia.
He was also pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Frontier Forensics.
Wolken’s death represents the loss of a man who had lived through more than seven decades. His family and friends are now left to remember his life while dealing with the sudden circumstances of his death.
The collision brought together two people from different generations who were traveling on the same stretch of highway when the crash occurred.
Three Others Hospitalized
Three additional people were involved in the crash and survived.
Franklin and Olsen were transported by emergency medical services to Overland Park Regional Medical Center. Christian D. Wellbrock, 22, of Victoria, who was a passenger in Wolken’s Cadillac, was taken to KU Medical Center.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported that all five people involved in the collision were properly restrained.
The extent of the injuries suffered by the three survivors was not detailed in the available information.
Investigation Continues
The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation by authorities.
The preliminary account indicates that the northbound Kia was attempting to pass two other vehicles before colliding with Wolken’s southbound Cadillac. Investigators will continue documenting the sequence of events and other factors involved in the collision.
The deaths of Davis and Wolken have turned a late-night trip along U.S. 59 into a devastating loss for two families.
As their loved ones and communities mourn, Davis and Wolken will be remembered apart from the circumstances of the crash that claimed their lives. Their deaths have left family members, friends and others facing the difficult aftermath of a tragedy that unfolded in a matter of moments.
