Kevin Kerr
The Duncan Banner
DUNCAN —
An accident claimed one life Wednesday afternoon when a semi collided with a van at the intersection of the Highway 7 bypass and Elk Avenue.
Master Officer Jarrod Bishop, who works as an advanced accident investigator, said that at approximately 2:20 p.m., the semi, which was headed northbound on the bypass, collided with the van, which was headed westbound on Elk.
“According to the semi driver and witnesses, the driver of the white van failed to stop at the stop sign and entered onto the bypass,” Bishop said. “The semi driver did all he could to avoid the accident.”
Bishop said the semi’s passenger side collided with the van’s driver side, and sent the van into the adjacent field. The semi then continued to swerve westbound until it finally came to rest far out into a field.
The driver of the semi received minor injuries, but the driver of the van was pronounced dead at the hospital. Bishop was told that it didn’t appear the driver of the van was wearing a seatbelt, but that both airbags did deploy in the van. The driver of the semi was wearing his seatbelt.
Bishop said he didn’t suspect anything suspicious like alcohol, but blood samples will be taken from both drivers to be sure.
There were no passengers in the semi, but the driver of the van did have a dog in the vehicle with him. The dog was reportedly fine, but was taken to animal control before being picked up by the family.
— Kevin Kerr is a reporter for The Duncan Banner. He can be reached at 580-255-5354 Ext. 147 or by e-mail at kevin.kerr@duncanbanner.com.
