Winter's return brings mishaps

McCOOK, Neb. -- The weather's sudden plunge back into winter Thursday meant cold temperatures, rain, sleet, snow and gusty winds throughout the day and evening, and two emergency incidents blamed on slick roads.

The condition of streets and highways deteriorated with heavier snow and strong winds after sunset.

Red Willow County sheriff's deputies responded to a one-vehicle accident about 10:45 p.m., when a vehicle left an icy Highway 6&34 near a bridge west of Indianola. No one was transported from the scene, and deputies directed traffic as emergency personnel and a wrecker worked at the scene.

Because the deputies knew the roads were slick -- especially on the bridges -- they warned McCook ambulance personnel who headed west out of town about 11:30 p.m., to intercept the Trenton ambulance transporting a man with a hip injury. McCook's ambulance transported the man to Community Hospital of McCook. McCook Fire Chief Marc Harpham said the man's injury was not weather-related.

At about 2 a.m., today, the Good Samaritan ambulance based in McCook was transporting a patient from Community Hospital to a North Platte hospital when it slid off Highway 83 about five miles into Frontier County. The McCook ambulance then responded to the scene of the accident.

Harpham said the highway was slick, "but at the (Red Willow) lake, it turned treacherous." Because of the heavy snow and strong winds, he said, "We could hardly stand up on the highway."

Nebraska State Patrol Sgt. Joel Smith described "icy road conditions and reduced visibility from blowing snow" that caused the driver to lose control. The northbound ambulance crossed the highway and entered the west ditch before coming to a rest in an adjacent field.

The Good Samaritan driver -- whom Harpham said is a very experienced driver -- was able to drive the ambulance out of the field. To expose the patient to the elements as little as possible, Harpham said the McCook ambulance backed up to the Good Sam ambulance and personnel from both ambulances quickly moved the patient to the McCook ambulance. He was then brought back to the McCook hospital. Nebraska State Patrol trooper Joel Smith said the man received minor injuries in the accident.

A paramedic in the Good Sam ambulance, who was unrestrained as she attended to the patient, was also transported to the McCook hospital and treated for minor injuries and held briefly for observation, according to a member of her family.

There were minor damages to the ambulance.

Red Willow County deputies assisted with traffic control on-scene.