Accident West of McCook on Hwy 6/34

McCook Dispatch received a call reference an accident west of McCook on Hwy 6/34. Information was confusing as different sources provided conflicting reports, everything from a single vehicle injury accident to multiple vehicles including an ambulance. I requested dispatch send the ambulance and Western Rural Fire. Dispatch advised everyone was enroute.

On arrival, the Highway, by necessity had to be closed as the scene was on the bridge, not allowing for bypass traffic. Medical care was being rendered to the driver of the vehicle involved. There were several witnesses that provided some information.

The accident occurred when a westbound 620 Case Quadtrac with it's lights on, had to move off the north shoulder to cross the bridge. A westbound Ford Ranger, at highway speed, failed to slow or pass the tractor and ran directly into the rear hitch of the tractor, causing catastrophic damage to the vehicle and trapping the driver within.

The tractor continued to a point where it could get off the Highway. The ranger slid to the southwest and now sat diagonally across the eastbound lane at the west edge of the bridge. Witnesses medically trained attempted to extricate the victim but were unable to, while trying to warn oncoming traffic with a flashlight.

While trying to extricate the victim, Trenton Rescue Squad's ambulance was eastbound, with a patient, running red lights approaching the scene at speed. The scene was dark, except for the subject trying to stop traffic with a flashlight, the driver of the ambulance was unable to see the individual with the flashlight and didn't see the vehicle sideways in his lane until it was too late for evasive action and with a patient aboard there was little, he could do.

The people that were trying to assist quickly cleared out and the ambulance impacted the passenger side rear of the Ford Ranger. Damage to the ambulance was primarily to the grill guard and passenger side front quarter panel. The Ranger's rear slid in an arc to the south.

Numerous vehicles stopped on both shoulders, and which began to slow traffic sufficiently to avoid further collisions. Headlights lit the scene until emergency units were on hand to begin rerouting traffic while the victim was cared for and the scene was investigated.

As always, my thanks to McCook Dispatch, McCook Fire and Rescue and Western Rural Fire as well as the State Patrol, who assisted with the accident investigation.

Sheriff Kevin Darling