By DEBORAH McCASLINChief Publisher
A tragic vehicle accident claimed the life of a Broken Bow teen last Thursday.
A heavy wet snow pushed into the area by an early winter storm, paired with poor visibility and a biting wind, created conditions leading to the accident, explained Trooper Janssen of the Nebraska State Patrol. Fifteen-year-old Travis Slingsby was heading east on State Highway 2 near mile marker 282 when his vehicle, a 1995 sedan, hydroplaned and slid into the oncoming lane at a 90 degree angle.
The teenager’s vehicle was hit broadside by the oncoming pickup driven by Kevin Hetrick, 27, of Grand Island.
Slingsby was wearing his seatbelt and his airbags deployed.
“Slingsby did everything he was suppose to do,” said Janssen. “He was wearing his seatbelt. He was not speeding. Neither vehicle was speeding. He was driving a car and his car was hit on the side by a heavier vehicle, a pickup truck.” said Janssen.
The acccident occured around 7:45 a.m. Slingsby was on his way to Ansley where he was attending school.
“Some place around mile marker 282, Slingsby started to lose traction and his car went into the westbound lane where it was struck on the side and it spun into the ditch,” said Janssen.
Hetrick was not wearing a seatbelt, but his airbags did deploy. He was transported to Jennie M. Melham Medical Center for treament and then transfered to Kearney.
“Driving on slush is like driving on marbles,” explained Janssen. There were no skid marks because neither vehicle was in contact with the road at the time of the accident, due to the conditions.
The State Patrol will be doing an analysis of the accident as they continue their investigation, but that takes time, Janssen added.
Troop D of the Nebaska State Patrol responded to two accidents that day and the Custer County Sheriff’s Office responded to eight, all brought on by the weather.
“Folks in the area are used to driving on snow and ice, but they aren’t used to driving on slush,” said Custer County Sheriff Ted Henderson.
“When you are driving in those kind of conditions, once your tires leave the tracks, the slush pulls you around and you are out of control.”
Henderson also added that when road conditions are not good, please allow yourself extra time to get to where you need to be, and if possible just stay home.
The Broken Bow Police Department, the Custer County Sheriff’s Office, the Nebraska State Patrol, and Broken Bow Rescue responded to the call.
An obituary for Travis Slingsby can be found by clicking on the Obituaries link.