A Humphrey woman died and a mother and her two children from rural Leigh were injured Thursday morning after their vehicles collided nearly head-on on a dirt road in southern Stanton County. Christina Brandl was pronounced dead at the scene, while the mother and her daughters were rushed to a Norfolk hospital before one of them was transferred to Omaha for further treatment.
Crash Happened Near the Crest of a Hill
The Stanton County Sheriff’s Office responded around 7:45 a.m. to the crash on 563rd Avenue near 825th Road, about seven miles northwest of Leigh, according to norfolkdailynews.com. A southbound SUV driven by Kelsey Hake, 35, of rural Leigh collided nearly head-on with a northbound sedan at the crest of a hill, the outlet reported. News Channel Nebraska also reported that one person was killed and a mother and her two daughters were injured in the crash, and that the Stanton County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the nearly head-on collision on 563rd Avenue.
The sedan was driven by Brandl, of Humphrey. Her age is reported differently across outlets — norfolkdailynews.com lists her as 21, while KLKN reports she was 20. Brandl was pronounced dead at the scene, per the same norfolkdailynews.com report.
Mother, Two Children Taken to Norfolk, Then Omaha
Hake and her two children, ages 7 and 13, were taken by ambulance to Faith Health in Norfolk, the report notes. Hake was later transferred to an Omaha hospital for further treatment, though the evidence does not detail the current condition of Hake or her children beyond those transports.
Investigators said the occupants of Hake’s vehicle were not wearing seatbelts, and it remains unknown whether Brandl was restrained at the time of the crash. Airbags deployed in both vehicles, the report states. KLKN reported that the investigation into the crash remains ongoing.
Third Fatal Crash in Stanton County This Year
Thursday’s crash marked the third fatal crash in Stanton County so far this year, according to norfolkdailynews.com’s reporting. No further details on the cause of the collision or who may be at fault have been confirmed.
