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Collision at intersection of Newberry, Highway 30Tell North Platte what you think
 

A spot that has been no stranger to collisions saw another one at 9:50 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13.

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A 2008 Ford F-350 pulling a livestock trailer collided with a 1993 Buick Regal at the intersection of Newberry Road and U.S. Highway 30.

Ivan Stoltzfus, 50, of Iowa, was driving the pickup truck south on Newberry. He told responding officer Sgt. Gary Hovey that he had stopped at the stop sign before proceeding.

Stoltzfus said he believed the intersection had four-way stop signs, according to an accident report from the North Platte Police Department.

It doesn’t.

Stoltzfus hit the Regal, driven by Randy Miles, 24, of Maxwell as the Regal headed east on Highway 30.

Miles told police that he saw Stoltzfus slow down, not stop, before entering the intersection. Witnesses supported Miles’ statement.

A third vehicle that was not involved in the accident was eastbound on Highway 30 and intended to turn north onto Newberry, but stopped in the center lane when the driver realized that Stoltzfus was not going to stop.

The accident report said there are flashing lights in the median and above the stop signs for north and south-bound traffic at the intersection. There are also signs indicating that cross traffic on the highway does not stop.

Stoltzfus’s Ford suffered $5,000 in damage. Miles’ Buick was totaled. No citations were issued and alcohol use is not suspected in the collision.

Randy Miles and his passenger, Diane Miles, 19, also of Maxwell, suffered minor injuries, according to the accident report. Diane Miles was treated at Great Plains Regional Medical Center.


Dangerous place

Within three years after the intersection and north bypass opened in September 2002, at least nine people had been injured in seven accidents there. One person was killed.

In 2004, after a rash of accidents, rumble strips were added on the north and south sides of the intersection. The stop signs were moved closer to the roadway, and red flags were placed on the stop signs to attract attention.

The state also built flashing red warning lights at the intersection and speed limits approaching the intersection were lowered.

In March 2008, the state paid $3.52 million to three families harmed in accidents at that intersection, after the Nebraska Court of Appeals reviewed three lawsuits.


 
The North Platte Bulletin - Published 8/14/2009
Copyright © 2009 northplattebulletin.com - All rights reserved.
Flatrock Publishing, Inc. - 1300 E 4th St., Suite F - North Platte, NE 69101
 
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I drive through this intersection fairly often. There are multiple factors that make it dangerous. One is the angle of intersection. The angle that the two roads intersect at makes it very difficult to judge the distance of approaching cross-traffic.

The other problem with this intersection is that cross traffic on Hwy 30 is (more often than not) going well in excess of the 40 mph speed limit. The speed limit going East on 4th street is only 40mph until just past the Newberry intersection towards the airport. I am not sure what the signs say going west from the airport just after crossing the bridge.
Report Talk Back AbusePosted by Philip    - 8/17/2009 9:58:33 AM
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Well, nitemare, in this case or at least my post,it was meant in the ''playful'' manner. I think it is referred to (harmlessly) as "ribbing". If I didn''t care for the journalism of this paper, I wouldn''t bother with it either on-line or in print. And I am sure that Ben is a big enough man to take some ''ribbing''. Oh,yea...glad to know you pay such close attention to ALL of my posts. Thanks.
Report Talk Back AbusePosted by sensible    - 8/16/2009 12:29:02 PM
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You say North Platte drivers are disrespectful? I guess that depends on your personal experiences. During construction on S Hwy 83, I have never once been left standing while trying to merge into heavy traffic. Someone always stops to let me and other traffic merge, and we don''t have to wait long. When the Jeffers/Francis street lights are malfunctioning local drivers with the right of way on Jeffers allow traffic on Francis to pass also, without police guiding the traffic. At that same intersection, drivers on the Jeffers will often yield the right-of-way to customers of the Time Saver. So don''t lump everyone in North Platte together and call us disrespectful, especially based on the alleged driving skills of an Iowa pickup driver who didn''t pay attention to all the signage and warning lights at a difficult but otherwise well marked intersection.
Report Talk Back AbusePosted by inthepan    - 8/16/2009 12:27:28 PM
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storm watcher: great post! i completely agree with your comment of the disrespectful drivers in north platte. sensible: given other post that you have put on here, i highly doubt you were "teasing". esther: cited from wikipedia.com- Teasing is a word with many meanings. In human interactions, teasing comes in two major forms, playful and hurtful. In mild cases, and especially when it is reciprocal, teasing can be viewed as playful and friendly. However, teasing is often unwelcome and then it takes the form of harassment. In extreme cases, teasing may escalate to actual violence, and may even result in abuse, potentially meeting the legal definition of child abuse. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teasing
Report Talk Back AbusePosted by nitemare    - 8/16/2009 7:53:22 AM
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Look up the definition of teasing. I think we can be more supportive and creative with comments or responses than we''ve done much about on this page. Ben reports. We all make errors. Let''s get on with the news. Thank you, Ben. And George.
Report Talk Back AbusePosted by Esther    - 8/15/2009 10:51:32 PM
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Oh nitmare...did you stop to think that maybe some of us were ''teasing''. Lighten up.
Report Talk Back AbusePosted by sensible    - 8/15/2009 10:11:42 PM
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Maybe the State will buy the stop lights the City is planning to take out........
Report Talk Back AbusePosted by Storm Watcher    - 8/15/2009 9:59:34 PM
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And pass on the right side on Fourth street..... even the State Troopers that know better....
Report Talk Back AbusePosted by Storm Watcher    - 8/15/2009 9:54:52 PM
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While you all are off topic, however amusing, The fact remains that this accident happened. I will put this young couple into my prayers. The fact remains that the drivers around here roll stop signs, blow off yellow lights, and fail to yield the right of way at a four way stop. How many of us know who has the right of way at an unmarked intersection? The people in this town dont know how to drive respectfully, period. "I think I can beat him through the intersection..." Keep it up, you pay my wages, and those of the people at the Hospital and Mortuaries. Dont drink and drive, the life you save might be mine.....
Report Talk Back AbusePosted by Storm Watcher    - 8/15/2009 9:52:20 PM
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i gotta agree with george on this. how incredibly pathetic and rude to go that over the deep end over a date. i dont know ben, but what i do know is that those of you who posted your negative statements should feel like a real a** about now. how rude!!!!
Report Talk Back AbusePosted by nitemare    - 8/15/2009 6:34:09 PM
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The date has been corrected; some people try to make mountains out of molehills. Ben is talented at this work and covering stories well.
Report Talk Back AbusePosted by George Lauby    - 8/15/2009 5:26:38 PM
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Ben thank you for giving us the story on the accident. Common sense told me that the date was an error. I am sure that will not be the first or last mistake that will be printed. NO offense Frank, but I think Ben is off to a great career in news
Report Talk Back AbusePosted by lake front mama    - 8/15/2009 1:35:56 PM
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Wow! August 29th hasn''t even gotten here yet and he is predicting a crash!! I wish he could predict what is going to happen in my life down the road!! Wow!
Report Talk Back AbusePosted by tax5555    - 8/15/2009 11:11:56 AM
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Would be more believable of a screw up if it were a story happening on the 19th or something, but wow.
Report Talk Back AbusePosted by used2tele    - 8/15/2009 10:06:38 AM
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Something good has come from this report and talk-back. Platypus you spelled "a" correct. And for the rest of the talk-backers. I guess we have to guess what type of "a" hole you want to be. I''m shootin for "a" hole to China. Come on talk-backers what kind of "a" hole do you want to be. the floor is open! Not meaning theres "a" hole in it. Its open for discussion! That was fun! oops off subject also.
Report Talk Back AbusePosted by eagle eye    - 8/15/2009 4:35:08 AM
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You guys are a-holes. Just sayin'' ....
Report Talk Back AbusePosted by Northplatypus    - 8/14/2009 11:02:17 PM
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Ben is the same person that reported a story that included the town Holy Oak, Colorado. I still dont know where that is!! Ben is no Frank, thats for sure!
Report Talk Back AbusePosted by thatsright    - 8/14/2009 10:46:53 PM
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Gee,I thought maybe he was trying his hand at being a psychic.
Report Talk Back AbusePosted by sensible    - 8/14/2009 9:49:09 PM
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I was thinking the same thing. I thought you followed your stories thoroughly Ben? And by the way this isn''t a love letter as you have previously proclaimed. Buy a calendar.
Report Talk Back AbusePosted by Disturbed    - 8/14/2009 6:23:49 PM
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Shouldn''t the accident have happened August 13 @ 9:50 pm. I listened to it on the scanner last night.
Report Talk Back AbusePosted by OldGold347    - 8/14/2009 6:18:53 PM
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FLAG LEGEND:
Green Flag = No current warnings. Any past warnings have expired.
Yellow Flag = Minor offense. Post was edited where neccessary. Yellow flags fly for 7 days.
Red Flag = A more serious offense. This user can't post to Talk Back for 7 days. The offending post has been permanently blacked out. Red flags fly for 7 days.
Black Flag = The most serious offense. This flag is reserved for those with multiple or particularly agregious offenses. Last step before permanent banishment. Black flags fly for 30 days.
Skull & Crossbones = Banned.
 
 
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