Tuesday truck-pickup collision leaves two hospitalized

Culbertson fire chief Rich Sensel, left, and Red Willow Western fire chief Bill Elliott strategize over how to safely empty diesel the fuel tanks of a semi truck involved in a semi-pickup accident Monday at 7:45 a.m., 1.7 miles east of Culbertson on Highway 6&34. Across the highway, in the north ditch, Sensel inspected the pickup. Firefighters/paramedics from the City of McCook, including Steve Renner, assisted on the scene.

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette

CULBERTSON, Neb. — An air-med helicopter lifted a Culbertson woman away from the scene of the collision Tuesday morning of her pickup and a semi-truck at 7:45 a.m., 1.7 miles east of Culbertson on Highway 6&34.

The Great Plains Health helicopter transported Karen K. Miller, 54, of rural Culbertson, to the hospital in North Platte. A Culbertson ambulance took the truck driver, Timothy A. Krause, 55, of rural McCook, to Community Hospital in McCook. Krause is listed in good condition. The North Platte hospital did not immediately return a phone call requesting a condition report on Miller.

According to the accident investigation by Hitchcock County sheriff's officers, the accident happened at the intersection of the highway and County Road 376 when Miller, driving a 2011 Dodge pickup, stopped at the stop sign, pulled forward onto the highway and failed to yield to Krause's westbound truck, a 1991 Freightliner.

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette

The Miller pickup came to rest upright in the north ditch. The truck ended up on its passenger side, and the trailer, also landing on its right side, spilled its load of corn onto the highway and shoulder.

The highway was shut down for a time, and traffic was diverted onto County Road 376.

Assisting sheriff's officers on the scene were Culbertson fire and ambulance, Red Willow Western Rural Fire Department and hazardous materials response, City of McCook Fire Department and paramedic intercept, and the Nebraska Department of Transportation.