Personal Injury Accident

DATE & TIME: 03-12-2019 @ 15:56

LOCATION: Highway 77 / Apple Road        

OFFENSE: Personal Injury Accident

CASE #: 2019-1203

On 03-12-2019 at approximately 15:56 hours, the Gage County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to an injury accident at Highway 77 and Apple Road in Cortland involving a gray 2013 Kia Optima being pinned under the trailer being pulled by a 2019 Mack semi-tractor. The Cortland Fire Department, Clatonia Fire and Rescue and the Nebraska State Patrol were also dispatched to the scene of the accident.

Investigators from the Gage County Sheriff’s Office interviewed witnesses and the driver of the semi-tractor and determined the semi-tractor driver, 48-year-old Steven Buhr of Beatrice, was stopped on West Apple Road at Highway 77 in Cortland. He said he looked at northbound and southbound Highway 77, but did not see any vehicles, so he pulled out onto Highway 77 and started making a left turn onto southbound Highway 77. The rear of the trailer was struck by a 2013 Kia Optima, which was northbound on Highway 77 and being driven by 33-year-old Christina Pierce of Lincoln, Nebraska. 

The force of the impact sent debris northbound for several hundred feet and the vehicle, which was pinned beneath the trailer, spun the trailer several feet across the intersection. The trailer was empty at the time of the accident.

Christina was taken by ambulance to Bryan West Hospital for treatment of injuries to her head, neck and body. The semi-driver was not injured and was met at the scene by a supervisor from his company. 

Both drivers were wearing their seatbelts and alcohol is not considered to be a factor in the accident.  There was a heavy fog in the area at the time of the accident. The investigation is ongoing.

Sheriff Millard “Gus” Gustafson #903

Investigator T. Hanson #90310

Sergeant B. Davidson #90322

Deputy J. Chavez #9036