The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a two-vehicle, double fatality crash that occurred at approximately 9:35 p.m. on Friday, June 6, 2014.

Preliminary investigation indicates that a 2002 Honda Accord driven by 21 year old Justin Ramirez, of Parsons, was northbound on U.S. Highway 69, approximately 4 miles north of the Crestline Junction (US 69, US 160, County Road 96), when the vehicle crossed the center-line and struck a southbound 2008 Chevy Impala, driven by 59 year-old Kenneth Orender, of Pittsburg.

Ramirez was pronounced dead at the scene and Orender was transported to Freeman Hospital in Joplin, Missouri by medical helicopter.

Orender was later pronounced deceased at 1:25 a.m. 

The investigation is ongoing at this time.