Kathryn “Katie” Gant, 31, Burlington, and director of radiology at Allen County Hospital, died in a traffic accident shortly before 8 a.m. Friday on K-58 five miles west of Le Roy.
Gant’s car, a GMC Acadia, collided head-on with a Cadillac Escalade driven by Justin Birk, 20, Burlington. The Highway Patrol said Birk’s vehicle “for an unknown reason went left of center” just before the collision occurred.
Birk was taken to Stormont-Vail Medical Center in Topeka.
Gant was on her way to work at ACH when the accident occurred.
She was born Sept. 14, 1979, in Council Grove. She graduated from Council Grove High School and earned an associate’s degree in radiology technology and a bachelor’s degree in medical diagnostic imaging from Fort Hays State University in 2002. She earned a master’s degree from Baker University in 2007.
On June 25, 2005, she was married to Gabriel Gant in Council Grove. They had three children, Myles Murphy, 7, Finn Turk, 4, and Capri Jo, who will be 2 Thursday.
The family moved to Burlington in 2008.
Among survivors are her parents, Joe and Rita Buchanan, Council Grove.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Council Grove. Rosary will be recited at 7 o’clock this evening at St. Rose, with visitation to follow at 7:30. Memorial contributions may be made to the Gant Children Educational Fund and may be sent in care of Penwell-Gabel, Box 273, Council Grove, KS 66846. To leave condolences online, go to www.PenwellGabelCouncilGrove.com.
ACH employee dies in collision
