Emergency crews were dispatched to a two-vehicle crash near McCook on Highway 83 on Monday

Kevin Darling, Sheriff of Red Willow County

McCook, Nebraska – First responders responded to a two-vehicle crash near McCook on Highway 83 on Monday that left one injured, authorities said.

McCook dispatch called McCook Ambulance to a two-vehicle accident with injuries on South Highway 83. Additionally, Red Willow Rural Western Fire was called. The Red Willow Sheriff’s Office responded when the call was made.

Upon arrival, the McCook Rescue Crew and volunteers, along with Rural Western and Fire Chief Harpham, were working to stabilize the driver of Vehicle #2 and prepare for his extrication.

Vehicle #1 was a Weather Craft heavy-duty truck and Vehicle #2 was a FedEX van. The crash scene showed Vehicle #1 traveling in the slow lane up the area known as M Hill south of Route 712 and Highway 83. Vehicle #2, also traveling southbound in the slow lane at near highway speeds, struck directly into the rear box truck of Vehicle #1.

The airbags on vehicle 2 deployed. However, the driver was trapped by the dashboard moving back and down and the windshield was also pushed against the driver. Eventually the steering wheel was cut out, the dashboard pried off and the driver was freed and taken to McCook Community Hospital.

The Red Willow County Sheriff says no further information is available on the driver’s condition or his transfer other than McCook. Driver #1 refused medical treatment, even though his head hit the windshield upon impact.

Darling also notes that Weather Craft crews who were on the truck immediately deployed fire extinguishers to ensure that the accident was only serious and not fatal. Darling thanks a passerby who used his vehicle to slow down traffic and protect the scene and the victim.