One injured in crash near Lake Andes

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LAKE ANDES — One person suffered minor injuries in a two-vehicle crash Thursday afternoon near Lake Andes, according to the Highway Patrol.

Around 2 p.m., Jerry Van Zee was driving his Dodge pickup east on state Highway 50 about eight miles west of Lake Andes when he noticed a Kia Sportage traveling west start drifting into his lane.

Jonnie Gallagher, who was driving the Kia, had his head drooped, and his vehicle sideswiped Van Zee’s.

Van Zee, 57, of Platte, tried to move over to avoid Gallagher, 65, of Geddes, but the Kia kept drifting into Van Zee’s lane.

When the vehicles separated, the Kia went into south ditch, where the trailer Gallagher was hauling rolled but the Kia stayed upright. The Dodge slid across the road and came to rest partially in the south ditch and partially on the roadway.

Gallagher likely had a diabetic reaction, said Highway Patrol Trooper Matt Peterson. Lake Andes Ambulance transported Gallagher to the Platte hospital with minor injuries. He will be cited for driving on the wrong side of the road. Gallagher was wearing his seat belt, but Van Zee was not. He will be cited for not wearing his seat belt.

The vehicles are completely totaled, Peterson said.

The Charles Mix County Sheriff’s Office, Highway Patrol and Lake Andes Fire Department also responded to the accident.

Tags: car accident, lake andes, news, updates