Two accidents, three locals injured

by Mary Le Arneal
Published 12/1/10

Two accidents on Monday, Nov. 22, sent three area residents to the hospital.
Two were involved in a two-vehicle accident with both drivers taken by helicopter following a head-on crash shortly before noon.

Dodge County Sheriff Steve Hespen said his office received report at 11:32 a.m. of an accident involving two pickups on Highway 30, just west of County Road 4, approximately three miles west of North Bend.

One truck driven by Eric Granger, 22, of North Bend, crossed the center line and collided head-on with Jerry Kohl, 38, of North Bend. Speed and alcohol were not a factor in the accident, the sheriff said.

The North Bend Fire Department responded at 11:36 a.m., using jaws of life equipment to extract both drivers from their vehicles. Both men were taken by LifeNet helicopters to Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha.

The cause of the accident was not determined immediately, as the sheriff department was unable to speak to either driver.

That same day Tammy Kreikemeier, 47, of North Bend, was involved in a single-vehicle accident. Kreikemeier lost control of the pickup she was driving on an icy bridge half a mile east of Schuyler. She suffered multiple fractures, a punctured lung and crushed vertebra in her back. Kreikemeier was taken to the Schuyler emergency room then Creighton Medical Center. She returned home Thanksgiving afternoon where she is convalescing.

As of Monday [Nov. , both Granger and Kohl remain in the hospital.

Granger has had surgery to repair his femur and a tear in his aorta and another operation was planned for Tuesday, Nov. 30, on his wrist. Bill Granger, Eric’s father, said they are unsure when he will be discharged from the hospital.

Kohl suffered a fractured femur and is having back pain. His wife Vicki said he has a long road to recovery and appreciates the community’s support.

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