STANTON COUNTY, NEBRASKA — A semi-tractor and tank trailer hauling milk left Highway 275 near Norfolk on New Year’s Eve and came to rest high-centered in the outside westbound lane after traveling up a steep hill and back down an embankment, injuring the driver and forcing lane closures while deputies investigated, the Stanton County Sheriff’s Office said.

The crash happened on Wednesday, Dec. 31, at approximately 4:40 p.m., on Highway 275 near 560th Avenue, about three miles east of Norfolk, according to the Stanton County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies said it was a single-vehicle crash involving a semi and a tank trailer carrying milk.

Investigators said the westbound semi left the roadway, traveled up a steep hill, then came back down the embankment before stopping high-centered in the outside westbound lane of Highway 275. Sheriff Mike Unger said it is possible the driver, a 28-year-old man from Spencer, Iowa, experienced a medical episode before leaving the roadway. The driver was not identified and sustained head injuries, deputies said.

The driver was transported to Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk by Norfolk Fire and Rescue. Authorities said the westbound lane(s) of Highway 275 were closed for about one and a half hours (about 90 minutes) while the scene was investigated and cleared, and westbound traffic on the four-lane highway backed up for about one mile during that time.

Stanton County Emergency Management assisted at the scene. Deputies said D & L Towing of Norfolk towed the fully loaded milk trailer to its final destination at Milk Specialties. Unger said it was “very fortunate” that the semi and trailer did not roll after leaving the roadway.

The investigation remains ongoing.

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