Accident near Broken Bow sends three to hospital

CUSTER COUNTY - The Custer County Sheriff ’s Office (CCSO) responded to two accidents Wednesday, Oct. 7.

At approximately 1:50 p.m. a 2103 Ford F150, driven by Kenneth Gottschalk, 76, of Broken Bow, was headed north on Hwy 2. The pick-up slowed to make a left turn onto Northeast Hwy 2 near Ryno Rd.

Following the pickup was a 2008 Chrysler Town & Country van, driven by Duane Psota, 70, of North Loup. According to the CCSO report, Psota did not observe the pickup slowing down and collided with it. The pickup spun in in a counterclockwise rotation and came to rest in the intersection facing southeast. The van continue to travel north, entering the east ditch and coming to rest facing north.

Psota, Gottschalk and a passenger in the pickup, Marita Gottschalk, 75, also of Broken Bow, were transported to Melham Medical Center.

Airbags did not deploy in the Ford pickup. The driver’s side airbag did deploy in the van. All three individuals were wearing lap and shoulder belts. Neither alcohol or drugs are suspected as a factor in the accident.

Earlier in the day, a 1999 Kenworth semi missed a stop sign and ran into a dry irrigation canal at the intersection of Round Valley Road and Hwy 183.

At approximately 8 a.m., Roger Bleich, 52, of Doniphan was eastbound on Round Valley Road when he failed to stop the truck at the intersection with Hwy 183. The truck crossed Hwy 183, entered the ditch on the east side of the Hwy and came to rest in the dry irrigation canal. According to the CCSO report, the Bleich said he did not see the stop sign at the intersection due to sun glare on his windshield. Alcohol and drugs are not suspected as a factor in the accident.

Mona Weatherly A van, driven by Duane Psota of North Loup is loaded on a tow truck after colliding with a Ford F150 just west of Broken Bow..

Mona Weatherly Traffic on Hwy 2 was backed up on the curve west of Broken Bow Oct. 7 for about 45 minutes after a Chrysler van struck the back of a Ford F150 that was making a left-hand turn onto Northeast Hwy 2. Three people were taken to Melham Medical Center as a result of the accident.