Neligh Man Severely Injured After Vehicle Flies Off Hwy. 14

A Neligh man was severely injured Sunday morning after his vehicle went airborne near the 14-20 junction.

Dennis Statler, 45, was transported to Antelope Memorial Hospital in Neligh after the accident.

According to the Nebraska State Patrol, a call came in from a Neligh convenience store at 5:48 a.m., reporting Statler shouting profanities and driving off at a high rate of speed.

Two calls came in from motorists reporting that Statler was "all over the road," a NSP spokesperson said. The state patrol was sent to search for him at 6 a.m. At 6:20 a.m., a trooper came upon the accident about 15 miles north of Neligh, just south of the 14-20 junction. Statler was on the highway and the vehicle was in flames below the viaduct near the railroad tracks.

Statler was transported by a motorist to the hospital. There were no passengers in the vehicle.

According to the state patrol investigation, Statler was driving a 1998 Ford Expedition northbound in the ditch near the 14-20 viaduct, lost control, went airborne going about 40 miles per hour and landed on the other side of the railroad tracks.

The vehicle was towed by Butch's Body Shop to the Antelope County impound lot.

Charges are pending and the incident remains under investigation. Responding at the scene were the Neligh Volunteer Fire Department, Neligh Rescue, Antelope County Sheriff's Department and the Nebraska State Patrol.