Topeka Woman Killed Helping Crash Victim on Highway

A 44-year-old Topeka woman, Sarah J. McLaughlin-Olson, was killed Sept. 10 while helping people involved in an earlier crash on U.S. 75 south of Topeka, Kansas. The Kansas Highway Patrol said a Ford F-350 towing a horse trailer veered onto the shoulder to avoid stopped vehicles and struck McLaughlin-Olson and the Honda Civic involved in the initial crash. The Honda’s 41-year-old driver suffered serious or critical injuries, while the pickup driver and three passengers were not hurt. McLaughlin-Olson was a social worker at Pauline South Intermediate School, where officials described her as a valued and supportive member of the school community and planned additional counseling support for students.