Car Runs Off U.S. Highway 77, During Dense Fog

BEATRICE – A car ran off U.S. Highway 77 north of Beatrice this morning, sending the driver to a Lincoln hospital.

The accident, about 13 miles north of Beatrice, happened at around seven a.m., during dense fog in the area…where the highway begins to curve east. 

Gage County Sheriff’s Officers say the driver, 19-year-old Christian Lambertz, of Beatrice was northbound in a Honda Accord traveling at a high rate of speed when the vehicle struck the curbed median.  The driver, authorities say, overcorrected, and the vehicle left the highway into the ditch, where it rolled over.

Investigators say witnesses reported they observed the car pass them at a high rate of speed.  One of the witnesses was the first on the scene to assist the driver and summon help.

Cortland and Clatonia Fire units were dispatched to the scene, along with an ambulance from Lincoln.   A medical helicopter was unable to fly and land at the accident site because of the fog, which limited visibility to a quarter mile in many areas between Pickrell and Cortland. 

Gage County authorities say the investigation is continuing and a citation is pending.   The driver was using a safety restraint.