Two-vehicle accident on Highway 6 claims one life

Authorities responded to a report of a two-vehicle accident west of Imperial around 3:26 p.m. Monday.
The Chase County Sheriff’s Office along with Imperial Volunteer Fire Department (IVFD), EMS and Lamar Volunteer Fire Department (LVFD) were called to the location, near mile marker 15 on Highway 6.
When authorities arrived, they found a semi-truck that was fully engulfed in flames and a pickup turned on its side.
Further investigation showed that a Ford pickup, driven by 49-year-old Clayton Giesbrecht of Madrid, had been traveling westbound on Highway 6 when his vehicle was struck head-on by an eastbound semi.
The semi, owned by Stewart Powell Trucking out of Yuma, Colorado, was driven by 41-year-old Brad Lee Kosinski of Eckley, Colorado. Kosinski’s semi crossed the center line and struck the front driver’s side of Giesbrecht’s vehicle.
The semi was pulling an empty tank, and upon collision, the tractor’s fuel tank  caught fire.
Kosinski escaped the burning cab, while Giesbrecht was trapped inside the pickup that was lying on its side.
Another party called 911 and requested immediate assistance.
Using their jaws equipment, IVFD cut Giesbrecht from his pickup and he was transported to the Chase County Community Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Fire Chief Doug Mitchell said the semi was a total loss from his perspective. The IVFD took six units to the scene, while LVFD brought four.
“Drugs and alcohol are not suspected as having a role in the accident, and the investigation continues,” Chase County Sheriff Kevin Mueller said.
A helicopter was flown in, which landed directly on the highway.
“The original plan was to fly Clayton directly out to another hospital, but due to his condition he was transported by ambulance to (CCCH),” Mueller added.
Kosinski was treated at the hospital and released with minor injuries.
Highway 6 was closed for about five hours Monday afternoon.
Traffic was rerouted north on country roads.
Nebraska Department of Roads also responded to the scene to assist with traffic.
On the scene
The accident occurred near the home and farm of Dale and Elisa Large.
Elisa had just left the house when she heard a loud bang.
“I looked over and at first all I could see was the smoke,” she said.
Kevin Kahln, a hired man for the Larges, called 911 and relayed information to authorities.
Large received some “very light scratches” on her forearm. “I was in the back window holding (Giesbrecht’s) hand and trying to keep him still,” she said.
Large and another hired man, Geoff Beemer, were on the scene until authorities arrived.
Memories of Giesbrecht
Giesbrecht owned C&S Construction, headquartered in Grant.
He was well-known in the Imperial and Chase County area for his construction work, most of which was commercial.
Recent projects in Imperial included the Ag Solutions building on East 12th Street and his company had just finished laying new concrete at Chase County Schools’ circle drive.
Other projects his firm completed in recent years included AK Acres’ processing and shipping building on South Street, the Imperial Berean Church addition and the CCS bus barn.
Charlie Goff of Grant is a former employee of Giesbrecht. He is the husband of Samantha Goff, who works for the Grant Tribune-Sentinel.
“He was a great employer,” she said. "Knowing Clayton, I'm sure he was a pillar in the Mennonite community."
City Clerk/Administrator Jo Leyland had many occasions to visit with him at the city offices. She said he did a lot of work for the city over the years.
“He was a very nice man, very polite and did such good work,” she said.