A Plains man is dead after a highway accident in Ford County.

James L. Cox, 59, of Plains, was traveling in a 2011 Dodge truck westbound on U-54 when the vehicle drifted across the eastbound lane colliding with an eastbound vehicle, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol. Cox was taken to Western Plains Hospital where he later died.

The driver of the eastbound vehicle, Ludwik Putro, 61, of Kitchener, drove onto the south shoulder to avoid Cox, but was unable to do so and the Kenworth 2000 truck he was driving was struck on the driver side door. Putro was not hurt.

The accident happened on U-54 at milepost 85.9 westbound about 2 miles west of Bucklin.