Collision south of Beatrice, sends EMS units, medical helicopter to scene

BEATRICE – A near head-on crash in southern Gage County sent emergency crews to the scene Tuesday night, at around 5:17 p.m.

The collision happened on a curve of U.S. Highway 77 at the junction with Nebraska Highway 112…about seven miles south of Beatrice.

Wymore Fire and Rescue and Beatrice Fire and Rescue units were sent to the scene.  The two vehicles that collided went off the east side of U.S. 77.  

Nebraska State Patrol Spokesman Cody Thomas says a Honda Accord was southbound on Highway 77 when a Ford Fusion attempted to turn left from Highway 112 onto northbound Highway 77. The two vehicles collided.

A medical helicopter was summoned to the scene from Lincoln and landed off the west side of the highway curve.  A Beatrice Fire Captain says one person was flown to Bryan West Health Center and one person was taken by ground ambulance to that hospital…both with serious injuries. 

The driver of the Honda…38-year-old Heather Linder, of Blue Springs, was transported by ambulance. The driver of the Ford…43-year-old Jama Young, of Lincoln, was transported by helicopter. 

The accident blocked U.S. Highway 77 with southbound and northbound traffic diverted onto Nebraska Highway 112.