Crash Claims Life of Teen, Sends Alliance Man to Hospital

A crash on Sunday afternoon claimed the life of a Gering teen and sent an Alliance man to the hospital to be treated for injuries.

Cody Thomas, Public Relations Director with the Nebraska State Patrol, said that troopers were called to the scene of a multi-vehicle crash between Hemingford and Chadron on Highway 385 at approximately noon.

“Preliminary investigation shows that a northbound Pontiac Grand Prix lost control while passing another vehicle, overcorrected, and struck a southbound GMC Sierra,” said Thomas. “The driver of the GMC was ejected from the vehicle. The driver of the Pontiac was trapped inside the vehicle. Both drivers were transported to Chadron Community Hospital. The driver of the Pontiac, Autumn Elsen, 19, of Gering, was pronounced deceased at the hospital.”

Ross Grant, 47, of Alliance, who was driving the GMC, was flown to Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff for further treatment. Thomas said seatbelts were not in use in either vehicle, and that the crash investigation is still underway.