DEXTER, Kan. (AP) – Authorities in south-central Kansas believe high winds contributed to a motorcycle crash that killed a 30-year-old airman.

Tech. Sgt. Harold Young died at the scene of Sunday afternoon’s accident in Cowley County. Young was riding with two other airman from McConnell Air Force Base who also crashed their motorcycles. Both remained in critical condition Tuesday at a Wichita hospital.

Cowley County Undersheriff Bill Mueller told The Wichita Eagle it appears the three riders came out of a protected area and were struck by a cross-wind that shoved their motorcycles into a deep ditch.

The National Weather Service says winds were gusting to 45 mph in Cowley County about the time of the accident. The same high winds fueled large grass fires across much of southern Kansas on Sunday.
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Information from: The Wichita Eagle, https://www.kansas.com