Woman Dies After Car Collides With Loader In Clearwater

A woman has passed as a result of injuries suffered during a collision in Clearwater on Thursday night.

According to a press release, at 5:51 p.m. on Thursday, the Antelope County Sheriff’s Office responded to a two-vehicle accident near the intersection of Colorado Street and Highway 275 in Clearwater.

A sliver 2004 Buick LeSabre bearing Nebraska license plate 36-E761 was traveling westbound on Highway 275 when it struck a westbound Caterpillar front-end loader. The driver of the loader, Jeremy Paul Hanson, 45 year old, from Spicer, MN was traveling on the shoulder of the highway, signaling to make a right turn onto Colorado Street and was operating with all warning lights activated.

The driver of the Buick was Clayton C. Johnson, 85 year old of O’Neill, NE. Johnson failed to observe the loader and attempted to avoid striking the loader by entering the eastbound lane. Approaching traffic prevented Johnson from making an abrupt lane change and resulted in him striking the rear of the loader. Clearwater Fire and Rescue responded to the scene.

Both Johnson and wife, Lois Johnson, 83 years old, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, were transported to Antelope Memorial Hospital by Clearwater Rescue. Lois Johnson succumbed to fatal injuries at AMH. Clayton was admitted to AMH for treatment.

​Both occupants of the Buick were not restrained at the time of the accident. Alcohol and speed were not a factor in the accident.