ACCIDENTS

REPORTED

These accident reports were released this past week by law enforcement agencies:

SHERIFF

Indigo Rd. near 180th Rd.

Lon R. Gietzen, 79, Hillsboro, was taken by ambulance to NMC Health, Newton, after he drove his 2021 Toyota 4Runner off the road and into trees at 2:48 a.m. Aug. 19, according to one of four accident reports released Friday by the sheriff’s office.

According to deputy Clayton Philpott’s report, Gietzen told authorities he had been heading home after visiting his daughter at her home, but the daughter and her husband said he had not been there.

Radio transmissions at the time said Gietzen was found confused near Salem Home and F St. in Hillsboro. He was taken to NMC Health by Hillsboro ambulance.

His Toyota sustained disabling damage to its front third, left rear, undercarriage, and windshield and was towed.

Philpott’s report blamed the wreck on vision being obstructed by vegetation.

90th Rd. east of Chisholm Trail Rd.

Susan J. Merrifield, 63, rural Goessel, hit a deer at 6:36 a.m. Sept. 2 with a 2020 Honda CR-V.

The sport-utility vehicle, owned by Rusten S. Schroeder of the same address, remained drivable with damage to its right front and undercarriage.

K-15 north of 220th Rd.

A trailer containing food products being pulled by an ATL Transport semi-trailer truck from Lincoln, Nebraska, caught fire at 5:12 p.m. Sept. 2.

Driver Sergey I. Yaskevich, 35, of Lincoln pulled over and disconnected the trailer, which had to be towed.

Hillsboro firefighters extinguished most of the fire within 15 minutes, but some remained until 6:53 p.m. to extinguish remaining items in the trailer.

150th Rd. east of K-15

Richard E. Smith, 55, Marion County Lake, hit a deer at 6 a.m. Friday with his 2004 Ford Mustang.

The car remained drivable with damage to its front, hood, and right side.

HILLSBORO

Grand Ave. east of Ash St.

Elaine J. Goodwin, 78, Hillsboro, backed her 2019 Nissan Rogue out of a diagonal parking space at 2:05 p.m. Sept. 2 and into a westbound 2012 Toyota Rav4 owned and driven by Sean A. Butler, 31, Lehigh.

Assistant chief Randy Brazil’s report blames the accident on improper backing by Goodwin and inattentive driving by Butler. No tickets were listed as being issued.

Both vehicles remained drivable. The Nissan, owned by Mark Goodwin of the same address, sustained damage to its left rear. The Toyota was damaged on its right front.