Blair, NE : Head on collision injures four on Saturday, November, 18th 2017

A head on collision west of State Highway 133 Saturday afternoon left two vehicles totaled and four people transported to area hospitals.

At approximately 3:30 p.m., a two-vehicle collision took place near the intersection of County Roads 33 and 36. The first vehicle, a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado operated by Hunter Pruess, 18, of Craig, Neb., was traveling southbound on CR 33. When Pruess approached the intersection, she was struck by a 2002 Ford Explorer, operated by Blair resident Kitt Kelley, 62.According to Patrol Captain Shawn Thallas of the Washington County Sheriff's Office, Kelley was traveling left of center as he prepared to make a lefthand turn onto CR 36, which sits at the crest of a hill. Kelley told law enforcement officials he was distracted while looking at a farmhouse near the intersection, which caused him to fail to yield to Pruess as he prepared to make the turn.

"It looks like (Kelley) was slowing down," Thallas said. "He was just starting to turn to go west on CR 36, so (Pruess) was entering into the intersection as Kelley was cresting the hill. It's kind of a blind intersection."

Kelley, who complained of severe chest pain, was transported to Nebraska Medicine in Omaha by Fort Calhoun Volunteer Fire and Rescue. Three of the four occupants of the Silverado were transported to Blair's Memorial Community Hospital and Health System by Kennard Volunteer Fire and Rescue for minor injuries, including Pruess herself, and a 16-year-old female believed to be Pruess's sister.

Airbags deployed in both vehicles. Restraints were in use by all parties aside from the two passengers in Pruess's backseat. Kelley was traveling solo. On Monday morning, Nebraska Medicine reported that Kelley was still a patient, but was stable and doing well.

No citations were issued, and drugs and alcohol are not suspected to be a factor in the crash.

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Head on collision injures four