A leader in the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation in northeast Kansas has died in a traffic accident.

Suzanne Heck, editor for the tribe’s newspaper and website, said Thursday that James M. Potter, who was tribal council secretary, died after the accident Wednesday evening west of Mayetta.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports Potter’s term as secretary was to end this year.

Heck says the tribe is expected to issue a statement later Thursday about Potter’s death.