Injury Accident

DATE & TIME: 01-12-2019 @ 7:54 am

LOCATION: Highway 77 / East Aspen Road

OFFENSE: Injury Accident

CASE #: 2019-0197

The Gage County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a single vehicle accident on Highway 77 approximately a half mile south of East Aspen Road on January, 12, 2019 at 7:54 am. The caller, 41-year-old Bobbie Rodriguez of Beatrice, reported she was driving her 2008 Toyota Scion northbound on Highway 77 and slid off the highway into the ditch and that the interior of her vehicle was filling up with water. She did not know exactly where she was located and could only give the description as being between Cortland and Pickrell. A Gage County Sheriff’s Office investigator was on duty and near the scene. Dispatchers from Southeast Communications were able to triangulate the 911 call to determine the location of the cell phone call to 911 to within a few feet and directed the investigator to the area. 

The vehicle was off the highway on the east side of Highway 77 in the ditch and not visible from the roadway. The investigator located the vehicle, which was stuck at a 45 degree angle in a small creek, with the front end submerged in the icy water. He made contact with the driver, Bobbie Rodriguez, and was informed the interior compartment was filling with water.

The investigator requested assistance from the Cortland Fire Department and personnel from the Cortland Fire Department were able to deploy rescue equipment to extract the driver and her passenger. Both were transported to Bryan West Hospital for treatment related to being exposed to the cold water.

Several inches of snow had fallen overnight and the slippery road conditions contributed to the accident.  Both occupants were wearing safety belts and alcohol is not considered a factor in the accident.

Sheriff Millard “Gus” Gustafson #903

Investigator T. Hanson #90310

Deputy S. Behrens #90317