Overview
- Ballard was seriously hurt when his 2024 Ford F-150 left the roadway and struck a delineator post, an embankment, and then a concrete bridge pillar on Tuesday night, Aug. 4, on the Kansas Turnpike.
- The Kansas Highway Patrol report says Ballard was the only person in the truck, he was wearing a seat belt, and first responders took him to Stormont Vail Hospital for treatment.
- Washburn University released a statement requesting privacy for Ballard and his family and said the school will provide updates when appropriate.
- The crash left the pickup heavily damaged and investigators have not released a cause, with authorities describing the probe as ongoing.
- Ballard is a former Kansas player who has built a successful Division II program at Washburn, including a 30-4 season and a Final Four run, and his hospitalization raises immediate questions about the team’s short-term plans and leadership while the university and community await more information.