Sunday accident brought new life

A two vehicle accident east of the Dix exit on Interstate 80 sent two adults and a child to area hospitals Sunday, Jan. 3 around 7:30 a.m.

According to Kimball Sheriff’s Deputy, Brandon Loy, the early morning accident occurred in the east bound lane, when Brittany N. Welch (22) of Augusta, Mich., attempted to pass an eastbound semi truck with a trailer in a 2011 Chrysler four door sedan.

The right front portion of Welch’s vehicle clipped the semi, sending the vehicle out of control and into the median and sending Welch, eight months pregnant, into labor.

Welch and her front-seat passenger, 33-year-old Jennifer Wheeler, also of Augusta, Mich., were transported via Air Link to Regional West Medical Center with serious, but non-life threatening injuries.

A third occupant of the vehicle, a seven year old male was taken to Kimball Health Services via ambulance, where he was treated and released to Deputy Loy.

Loy transported the child to Health and Human Services in Scottsbluff where he was cared for until family members could arrive from Michigan to take over his care.

The driver of the combination truck and trailer, Loran Last, 51, of Newport Beach, Calif., was using his safety restraints. He was uninjured and able to pull over and come to a safe stop on the shoulder of the highway.

None of the occupants of the Chrysler sedan were wearing seat belts.

Currently Welch is listed in good condition at Regional West Medical Center, with no information available on the infant.

Wheeler was released on or before Jan. 4 from RWMC.

No further information has been given regarding citations stemming from the accident.