Weekend accidents leave two dead

Red Willow Western firefighters cool off bulls in a stock trailer at the scene of a fatal accident early Friday evening east of McCook. An Indianola man was killed in the three-vehicle collision. Early Saturday, a Norcatur, Kansas, man was killed in a one-vehicle rollover accident southeast of Danbury. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette)

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Accidents over the long Fourth of July weekend proved deadly for two men, one from Indianola, Nebraska, another from Norcatur, Kansas.

James "Jimmy" Sughroue of Indianola died in a three-vehicle accident east of McCook at 6:45 p.m., Friday, July 1. Just seven hours later, Keith Edward Mannie of Norcatur was killed in a one-vehicle roll-over accident southeast of Danbury, Nebraska.

Nebraska State Patrol officers investigated both accidents.

The Patrol's accident investigation indicates that the Sughroue vehicle, driven by Jimmy's wife, Ramona, 47 years old, was one of three vehicles east-bound two miles east of McCook on Highway 6 and 34.

The first vehicle, a Pizza Hut delivery van, was driven by Barry Allison, 21, of McCook. It was stopped on the highway to make a left-hand turn at a private driveway and waiting for oncoming traffic to clear. The Sughroue van and a pickup driven by Lance Hilker, 19, of Cambridge, pulling a stock trailer loaded with bulls, approached the delivery van from the rear and attempted to pass it on the right when they collided with other and then with the delivery van. The impact sent all three vehicles across the highway and into the north ditch.

Jimmy Sughroue was pronounced dead at the scene.

The troopers' report indicates that Allison was wearing a seat belt and was not injured. Hilker was not wearing a seat belt and suffered facial injuries, but was not transported for treatment.

Ramona Sughroue and sons Patrick, Daniel and James Jr. were transported to Community Hospital of McCook. The troopers report that seat belts were worn by some of the Sughroue family members.

Each of the three vehicles was totaled.

Services for James Sughroue will be Thursday, July 7, a rosary at 9 a.m., followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m., at St. Catherine's Catholic Church in Indianola.

Keith Edward Mannie, 33 of Norcatur, died about 1:55 a.m., Saturday, after he overcorrected when his southbound pickup entered the ditch on Red Willow County Road 397 three miles southeast of Danbury.

The vehicle rolled and Mannie was ejected. He was not wearing a seat belt. Alcohol is being investigated as a factor, according to the report.

Services for Mannie will be Sunday, July 10, at 3 p.m., at his ranch, the Bar M, at 2304 BB Lane, Norcatur.