Tragedy struck Monday afternoon when a white Ford pickup collided with a semi truck with a load of cattle at the intersection of 12th St. and Hwy. 61. The driver of the pickup was killed instantly and three of the cattle in the trailer had to be put down.
Monday fatal accident at 12th and Hwy. 61
By Alan Carman
The Imperial Republican
Monday, Jan. 26, at about 4:15, the fire whistle blew and the call was for a two vehicle accident at the intersection of 12th Street and Hwy. 61.
Upon arrival, the crews of Imperial EMS, Imperial Volunteer Fire Dept., Imperial Police Dept., and the Chase County Sheriff’s Dept., found a white Ford pickup and a semi truck pulling a trailer full of cattle from Imperial Beef, had collided on the highway.
Preliminary investigation indicated that the semi was traveling southbound on Hwy. 61, just north of the intersection. The white Ford pickup was traveling north and attempted to turn west onto 12th street and collided with the semi in the southbound lane.
The driver of the pickup, 94 year old, Burdette Bauerle of rural Imperial, was pronounced dead at the scene. The semi, driven by 47 year old Carlos Martinez Banuelos of Kansas, was tossed on it’s side and the driver and cattle were trapped inside. Banuelos was evaluated by Imperial EMS on scene and declined transport to the hospital.
Nebraska State Patrol was requested to conduct a crash reconstruction investigation and to assist with the CMV portion of the crash.
The semi was hauling 29 head of cattle.
Volunteers showed up from Imperial Beef, Imperial Auction Market, Veterinary Services and many Imperial citizens to help get the cattle out of the overturned trailer and removed from sight. Many area cowboys brought there horses in to assist with the cattle.
A temporary pen made of cattle panels was constructed before the top of the trailer was peeled off to gain access to the cattle.
Once the top was peeled off, the cattle emerged from the trailer into the pen. At least three of the cows had to be put down due to injuries that they sustained.
It appeared that neither driver was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. At this time no citations have been issued. The crash remains under investigation.
Our condolences go out to the Bauerle family for their loss.