Sheriff reports injury accidents on Highway 73

FALLS CITY – The Richardson County Sheriff’s Office reports a two-vehicle, injury accident at the intersection of Highway 73 and 650 Avenue on Saturday evening.

A Pontiac Torrent, driven by 48-year-old Scott Bachman Sr. of Humboldt, and a 2019 Ford Ranger pickup,driven by 53-year-old Troy Tucker of Caldwell, Texas, collided.

Investigators say Tucker violated a stop sign and entered into the path of the Bachman vehicle.

Falls City Volunteer Ambulance Squad checked out and released both drivers, but two of three passengers in the Bachman vehicle were transported to Community Medical Center. A juvenile passenger in Bachman’s vehicle and a passenger in the Tucker pickup were not transported.

Tucker is suspected of driving under the influence.

The sheriff’s office also reports a two-vehicle accident Sunday evening at Highway 73 and 651 Avenue.

A Buick sedan driven by 87-year-old Ruth Groothuis of Falls City was attempting to turn into the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church parking lot when it collided with a Chevrolet pickup driver by 30-year-old Lucus Ely of Brownville.

Investigators say Ely attempted to avoid the collision, but was struck on the driver’s side and rolled into the ditch.

An ambulance crew transported three occupants of the Groothuis vehicle to the hospital with minor injuries. Ely was transported by private vehicle with serious injury.

Groothuis is suspected of failure to yield.