A Missouri man died after driving a semi-truck into a lake at Mormon Island State Recreation Area near Grand Island, Nebraska.
Why it matters: The incident raises concerns about road safety and the potential environmental impact of the crash.
The details:
- Verlin Hunt, 69, of Battlefield, Missouri, was identified as the driver who died in the crash.
- The accident occurred around 5:40 p.m. on Wednesday when the eastbound truck crossed the median and westbound lanes of Interstate 80 before plunging into the lake.
- Authorities believe alcohol was not a factor, and Hunt was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
- The cause of the accident remains under investigation.
Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including the Hall County Sheriff’s Office, Grand Island Fire Department, Doniphan Fire, Nebraska State Patrol, and Nebraska Games & Parks.
The environmental impact:
- Diesel fuel and oil were released into the lake as a result of the crash.
- An environmental cleanup team is working on the site to address the spill.
- Lake 1 and the beach at Mormon Island State Recreation Area are temporarily closed following the incident.
“When deputies arrived on the scene, they found the driver inside and began life-saving measures until they determined he was dead,” the Nebraska State Patrol reported.
What’s next: An accident reconstruction team has been called in and will continue to investigate the cause of the crash. The environmental impact will be assessed and addressed by the cleanup team.
Full story
A Missouri man died on Wednesday after crashing a semitruck into a Grand Island lake. The Hall County Sheriff’s Department responded to Mormon Island at 5:40 p.m. for a vehicle that had driven into the far west lake. Deputies arrived to find a semi and trailer partially submerged along the south shore of the lake.
The driver, identified as 69-year-old Verlin Hunt, was pronounced dead at the scene. A preliminary investigation indicated that Hunt was driving a 2020 Freightliner eastbound on Interstate 80. Hunt crossed through the median and both westbound lanes before driving down a steep hill and into the lake.
Officials stated that alcohol is not believed to have been a factor and that Hunt had been wearing a seatbelt. As a result of the accident, diesel fuel and oil were released into the lake, prompting Nebraska Game and Parks to announce that the lake will be closed until further notice.
Missouri man crashes into lake
The cause of the accident is still under investigation. Multiple agencies, including the Hall County Sheriff’s Office, Grand Island Fire Department, Doniphan Fire, Nebraska State Patrol, and Nebraska Games & Parks, responded to the scene. A Southern Power crew was also present to repair a power line damaged in the accident.
An accident reconstruction team has been called in and will continue to investigate. Environmental concerns are being addressed as diesel was spilled in the lake. An environmental cleanup team is working on the site.
Lake 1 and the beach at Mormon Island State Recreation Area are temporarily closed following the crash. Authorities indicated that rain conditions were not a factor in the crash.
- KLKNTV.”Missouri man dies after driving into Grand Island lake”.
- KSNBLOCAL4.”Missouri man identified as victim in Mormon Island crash”.
- Nebraska.”One dead after semi crashes into water at Mormon Island”.