Fatality Accident Closes Highway

     Emergency responders were called out to a two vehicle accident west of Stratton on Tuesday afternoon. At 2:32 p.m. the Hitchcock County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a head-on collision involving a tractor-trailer and a car on U.S. Highway 34 near mile marker 44, about three miles from Stratton.

     The investigation shows the tractor-trailer, driven by 64-year-old Daniel Johnson of Arvada, Colorado was eastbound on U.S. Highway 34. 56-year-old Grant Needham of Colorado Springs, Colorado was traveling westbound when he attempted to pass the vehicle in front of him and struck the oncoming tractor-trailer. Mr. Needham was pronounced dead at the scene.

     Alcohol/drugs do not appear to be a contributing factor and lab test results are pending.

     The Hitchcock County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Stratton Fire and Ambulance, the Dundy County Sheriff’s Office, Nebraska State Patrol, and Town and Country Towing.

     Highway 34 was closed from Stratton to the Dundy County line for several hours because of the accident on Tuesday afternoon. Pictured Dustin Ladenburger, Stratton EMT, and Gavin Klie, Stratton Fire Department, stopping westbound Highway traffic in Stratton.