Electric Team, Police Chief Recognized After Substation Crash

The quick actions of Neligh's police chief and electric team after an SUV crashed into the city substation were recognized Tuesday night.

The Neligh City Council passed resolutions 2016-7 and 8 at the city council meeting, recognizing City Superintendent Dean Bly, Electrical Superintendent Josh Capler and Police Chief Mike Wright, along with electrical crew Brian Hain and Scott Kester.

On April 24, an SUV driven Joshua Doorlag, 24 of O'Neill, was traveling westbound on Highway 275 in a Ford Escape when the medical episode occurred. The Antelope County Sheriff's Department said that caused Doorlag's vehicle to traveled through the entrance of Riverside Park and between the Cowboy Trail and Neligh Economic Development/Chamber of Commerce office before crashing through the substation fence.

The accident lead to a 45-minute power outage in Neligh. Bly said it would have been a 10-hour outage if not for having the city's generation plant as a backup. Even with the plant, workers spent nearly all night at the substation repairing it and the fence.

"The generation plant fired up just like it was supposed it to, the motors work great and everything went just like it should," Bly said. "And our guys handled the situation very well and very professionally. They were on the phone with the convenience stores, nursing home, assisted living and others last night making sure they knew what was going on with the power." 

During Tuesday's meeting, the City Council recognized the police chief for "prompt and professional actions in service to the citizens of Neligh" because "without such prompt assistance, it is possible that great damage, injury and death could have occurred to the automobile's occupant and emergency personnel."

Bly, Capler, Hain and Kester were recognized because they "immediately took action to deactivate the power to the substation to enable emergency personnel to assess the damage and provide medical assistance tothe party involved in the collision." 

The resolution added, "Their exemplary service in this time of need is appreciated and recognized with a grateful "thank you" for a job well done."