Courtesy Photo­Image

A 19-year-old Callaway woman, Kristina Leigh Anne Allen, was killed Wednesday when her car was hit by a sport utility vehicle that crossed the median on Interstate-80.

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The wreck occurred around 4:30 p.m. An eastbound 2005 Chevy Trailblazer driven by Lindsay D. Schluntz, 28, of Kearney went out of control near the Giltner exit, the Nebraska State Patrol reported.

The Trailblazer crossed the median and smacked into Allen’s 2000 Saturn, sending both vehicles into the north ditch.

Investigators said both women were wearing seat belts. Schluntz was not injured.

Giltner is just east of Grand Island.

Slick surfaces make it difficult to steer and stop. Officials advise you not to drive in slick, wet, snowy weather with your cruise control on.

Motorists are also encouraged to give themselves plenty of time and distance to react to others around them. Be sure to exercise caution on bridges and overpasses, keep your headlights on and make sure they are cleaned off.

Overall, the accident rate has been relatively light through the storm, a spokesperson said at the State Patrol North Platte Troop D Headquarters.

No serious injuries other that the fatality had been reported to the Patrol by late afternoon Thursday.

“There have been some of the usual things like vehicles sliding off the roads here and there and a few collisions,” the spokesperson said. “People seem to be staying home and not doing much unnecessary driving.”

North Platte

Police responded to just two accidents as of Thursday afternoon, with no injuries.

Officers issued 46 parking tickets to vehicles that violated the ban on parking along the city's emergency snow routes, Police Information Officer Rodney Brown said.

County roads

Chief Deputy Roland Kramer of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said there were no serious accidents on county roads.

“Seems like most people got enough advance warning that they were well prepared for this storm and for the most part, traffic has been light on the county highways and roads,” Kramer said.

Kramer said U.S. Highway 30 is in relatively good shape.

“Road crews have been working hard keeping it clear and it looked good (Thursday morning),” Kramer said.

Snow fell for nearly 30 hours without a let up, but Lincoln County Roads Supervisor Jerry Hitchcock said it was blessing that there was no major drifting.

Nine inches of snow was reported near Brady, but about six inches fell across the rest of the county, Hitchcock estimated.

The snow will end Thursday night, the National Weather Service in North Platte said. Hitchcock said county road crews will be out early Friday morning.

George Lauby contributed to this report.