Driver airlifted to hospital, from U.S. Highway 136 accident

BEATRICE – One person was airlifted by medical helicopter from a highway accident, southwest of Beatrice on Saturday.  

Gage County law officers were trying to determine the exact time of the accident, reported by a passerby who reportedly came upon the injured person lying near the scene.

A Gage County Sheriff’s Deputy says the injured man was driving north on U.S. Highway 136 when it went off the west side of the highway, slightly north of the intersection with West Lilac Road.   The car jumped an embankment, apparently crossed a driveway, went up another embankment and struck a utility pole before flipping over onto its top.   A deputy says no other vehicles were involved in the accident.  

Law officers blocked off the highway to allow the helicopter to land on U.S. 136.  Officials were able to reopen the highway in both directions, at around 2:30 p.m.  

Beatrice Fire and Rescue and Beatrice Rural Fire responded to the scene of the accident.   The identity of the injured driver was not immediately available and officials are not yet sure how long he had been there, and when exactly the accident happened. A deputy said the man was conscious when he was flown from the scene.