Fatality Accident on Highway 77, West of Blue Springs

DATE & TIME: 12-29-2016 / 12:19 p.m.

LOCATION: Highway 77 / West of Blue Springs                    

OFFENSE: Fatality Accident   

CASE #: 2016-6957

On Thursday, 12-29-2016 at approximately 12:19 p.m., the Gage County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a motor vehicle accident involving two vehicles on U.S. Highway 77, approximately a quarter mile west of Blue Springs, Nebraska.          

The initial investigation of the incident determined that Harry N. Hart III, 41 years of age, from Lincoln, Nebraska was driving his 2006 Chevrolet Malibu northbound on Highway 77 after passing through the Wymore and Blue Springs area, on his way to his home in Lincoln.  His father was traveling in a separate vehicle just ahead of him and was on his way home to Omaha, Nebraska.

Lora Lee Stohs, 63 years old, of Marysville, Kansas, was traveling southbound in her 2015 Chevrolet Equinox on Highway 77 and heading back to Kansas.   She had her two grandsons in the vehicle with her.

The initial investigation indicates Stohs vehicle crossed the painted center line and the left front portion of her vehicle collided with the left front portion of Hart’s vehicle.  Stohs vehicle spun around and came to a rest on the south shoulder of U.S. Highway 77.  Hart’s vehicle flipped over, coming to a rest on the roof in the north ditch.

StarCare medical helicopter and ambulances and fire department personnel from Blue Springs, Wymore, and Beatrice were dispatched to the scene. 

Hart was pronounced dead at the scene and it is believed he died instantly from injuries sustained in the accident.

Drivers of both vehicles and the passengers were wearing their seatbelts.  The Wymore Fire Department and the Blue Springs Fire Department had to use hydraulic rescue tools, commonly referred to as the “Jaws of Life”, to extricate Lora Lee Stohs, and then remove Harry Hart from his vehicle.

Lora Lee Stohs was transported to Bryan West by StarCare air ambulance.  Her 12 year old grandson was transported to Bryan West by Beatrice Ambulance and her other grandson was transported to Beatrice Community Hospital for treatment.

The Gage County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Nebraska State Patrol, Wymore Police Department, and the Nebraska Department of Roads.  The Gage County Attorney’s Office was contacted to conduct duties as county coroner as required by law. 

The Nebraska State Patrol was contacted and troopers responded to the scene to provide traffic control and a trooper who has specialized training as an accident reconstructionist is assisting with the traffic accident investigation.

The accident does not appear to be due to alcohol or excessive speed.  The Gage County Sheriff’s Office is continuing the investigation and coordinating the collection of evidence with the Nebraska State Patrol and the Gage County Attorney’s Office.  An investigator with the Gage County Sheriff’s Office will continue the investigation.  The Gage County Attorney has not ordered an autopsy for this case.

Sheriff Millard “Gus” Gustafson #903

Investigator T. Hanson #90310