Central City man dies in accident

MERRICK COUNTY, Neb. - A Central City man was killed following a two-vehicle accident Friday afternoon.

The Merrick County Sheriff’s Office said it happened around 2:25 p.m. on Highway 30 just west of Central City.

Dispatch received multiple 911 reports of the accident between a semi truck and a Chevy Cobalt. Before crews arrived on scene, the semi truck was fully engulfed in flames and the other vehicle was in the north ditch.

The sheriff’s office said a preliminary investigation concluded that the driver of the Chevy Cobalt, identified as 44-year-old Eric Johnson, crossed the center line of the highway and collided with the semi.

Johnson, who was not wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead at the scene. The other driver was uninjured.

Neither drugs or alcohol are believed to be a factor in the accident.

The Merrick County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Central City Police, Nebraska State Patrol, Central City Fire and the Central City Ambulance.

Merrick County Sheriff John Westman said in a press release “on behalf of all emergency crews we wish to extend our condolences to the Johnson family.”