Man killed when ejected in crash with semi in rural Gage County

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A 21-year-old man was killed Friday in a crash on Highway 77 in rural Gage County.

The two-vehicle crash happened around 6 a.m. near Pickrell.

A pickup truck was heading south on Highway 77 when it tried turning east onto Pickrell Road, the Nebraska State Patrol said.

The driver, Ethan Thies of Sterling, lost control due to slick conditions and spun around into the northbound lanes, according to the patrol.

A propane tanker crashed into the pickup truck, ejecting Thies.  He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The pickup and cab of the semitrailer caught fire after the crash, the patrol said.  The semi driver got out without any injuries.

About two dozen firefighters responded from the Beatrice and Pickrell rural fire districts.

Firefighter J.T. Karlin said it took some time to get it under control. He said smoke from a car fire is different than with a house.

“You had fuel, fiberglass, aluminum melting, the diesel,” he said. “So, it was quite hot when we got up there. And at first, we didn’t know how to attack.”

Karlin said there was concern over the propane tanker, but it didn’t rupture during the fire.

“There’s relief valves on there, and at a certain pressure, they should go,” he said. “And we heard them, so they were doing their job.”

The state patrol is still investigating the crash.

The highway was shut down between West Dogwood Road and Pickrell Spur for several hours but has since been reopened.