Vernon County Sheriffs Office Press Release: Driver charged with assault when passenger is injured in vehicle crash‏

Billy W. Willett

The driver of a vehicle that was involved in a collision with a semi on West 54 Hwy has been taken into custody. According to court records, an arrest warrant was issued Thursday afternoon for 34 year old Billy W. Willett, of Fort Scott, KS for Assault – 2nd Degree, and Resisting/Interfering With Arrest. 

According to a press release from the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office, the vehicle driven by Willett turned off of 54 Hwy when the deputy activated his lights, but instead of stopping, took off, drove through a stop sign and pulled back onto 54 Hwy in front of an oncoming Semi causing the semi to hit Willett's car.

According to Sheriff Jason Mosher, a passenger was transported by ambulance and Willett was taken into custody. “The vehicle took off when the deputy turned on his lights and ran a stop sign and caused an accident that resulted in injuries to the passenger in the vehicle with him. When someone acts recklessly and causes someone to get hurt you can be responsible for that” said Mosher. The Sheriff also said additional charges may be filed in the future when the investigation is complete but could not give any more details at this time. Willett is being held in the Vernon County Jail on a $10,000 bond.