Kearney County Sheriff’s Office investigating crash that killed 13-year-old girl

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The Kearney County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a crash that killed a 13-year-old girl.

Just before 12:45 p.m. Monday, the sheriff’s office was called to a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Highway 34 and 44, just west of Axtell.

According to authorities, a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta was driving east on Highway 34, trying to make a left turn onto Highway 44.

That vehicle was hit by a westbound 2019 Peterbilt truck pulling an empty tanker trailer, the sheriff’s office said.

A 13-year-old female passenger in the Volkswagen was air-lifted to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, where she was later pronounced dead.

Both drivers were also taken to Kearney hospitals by ambulance. They were treated and released for their injuries.

According to the sheriff’s office, seatbelts were used by everyone involved in the crash.

The crash is under investigation by the sheriff’s office, the Nebraska State Patrol and the Kearney County Attorney’s Office.