High Speed in Neighborhood Intersection Reason for Crash

SIDNEY - The quiet neighborhood mirroring the Sidney Volunteer Police Department and the Sidney Public Library was rocked Wednesday afternoon, June 26th, by a serious collision caused by speeding in an intersection with no stop signs and no clear indication of right of way.

As the summer heats up and traffic increases, an important question should be asked - are our community children safe on the sidewalks, or crossing the street?

Residents Ray Garrett and Taylor Hagemeyer were traveling in separate directions around 2:00 pm; Garrett in a black Nissan Maxima was traveling at an accelerated speed above the 25-mile-per-hour limit, while Hagemeyer, who had the right of way, was driving a white Toyota Camry down Linden Street. Hagemeyer was listed as going at or below the listed limit.

An eyewitness account from a city employee reported Garrett attempted to leave the scene before police response had arrived; further, they commented that neither driver noticed the other until it was too late, with corrections from Hagemeyer not preventing the almost head-on collision. The city worker also voiced frustration with the extensive number of speeding cars and distracted drivers through the intersection regularly.

The exact listing of events is as follows, "Vehicle #1 traveling eastbound on Linden street at a high rate of speed, vehicle #2 traveling northbound on 12th crossing Linden, vehicle (1) due to speed was unable to yield to number 2 and struck number 2," so the police report reads. "Inattentive, Careless, Negligent or Erratic Manner," was listed as the contributing cause in the incident.

The accident required assistance from the "jaws of life," a hydraulic machine used to pry open the driver's side door of the Toyota; the Nissan suffered an extensive leak which required covering by fire personnel. Both cars were classified as totaled.

Hagemeyer's three children were buckled into car seats; all were unharmed during the afternoon incident.

Paramedics were on the scene, in addition to police and fire personnel. No further information is available at this time.

According to Nebraska Revised Statutes Chapter 60. Motor Vehicles § 60-6,146. "Vehicles approaching or entering intersection at same time; right-of-way; entering a highway or roadway roadways at approximately the same time, the driver of the vehicle on the left shall yield the right-of-way to the vehicle on the right." Which means in the absence of stop signs or lights at an intersection, the vehicle on the right has the Right-of-Way. If you are merging onto a highway or roadway, the opposite is true, as stated in article (2) of the same provision: "Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, a vehicle entering a highway from an acceleration lane, a ramp, or any other approach road shall yield the right-of-way to a vehicle on the main roadway entering such merging area at the same time, regardless of whether the approach road is to the left or the right of the main roadway, unless posted signs indicate otherwise."

We all know the frustrations of modern life and having a busy schedule, but speed limits are there to protect all road users. Faster doesn't mean safer." The statistics conclude that for two-decades speeding has been a factor in 1/3 of all motor vehicle fatalities.

Fortunately, at 2:00 pm Wednesday, June 26th, there were no children crossing the street to the Sidney Public Library. As the intersection by the public library is frequented by children and bicyclists, especially during summer, the old saying is more important now than ever- always look both ways before crossing the street.

Author Bio

Kelsey Arrington, Staff Reporter

Cheyenne County native, local business owner.