Driver Charged After Crash Kills Washburn University Professor, Wife
TOPEKA, KS — March 31, 2026, 4:05 a.m. CT — A driver faces a traffic infraction following a collision that resulted in the deaths of a Washburn University professor and his wife.
Edward C. Bullmaster, 26, was charged with failure to yield at a stop sign after the incident on December 20, 2024, at US-75 and K-20 highways in southern Brown County, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP). Both Dave Provorse, 64, and Marcia Provorse, 62, were pronounced dead at the scene.
KHP's investigation revealed no evidence of speeding, alcohol consumption, or other aggravating factors, leading authorities to refrain from pursuing more severe charges. Brown County Attorney Kevin M. Hill confirmed the findings align with a 2002 Kansas Supreme Court ruling which necessitates a “material deviation” from standard care for a vehicular homicide charge.
On the morning of the crash, Bullmaster, driving a 2016 Freightliner semi-trailer westbound on K-20, failed to stop at a sign and struck the southbound 2019 Ford F-150 driven by Provorse. The vehicles ended up in a ditch, with the semi on its side. Bullmaster and a passenger sustained minor injuries.
Bullmaster's case is ongoing, and should he plead guilty, he would be shielded from further prosecution related to this incident.
The investigation remains open, focusing solely on the circumstances surrounding the failure to yield.
Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.