Two Box Butte teens killed in accident west of Hemingford

Regional News

A two vehicle accident about 8:00 Friday morning 10 miles west of Hemingford claimed the lives of two teenage sisters from Box Butte County and injured a man from South Dakota.

The Nebraska State Patrol identifies the victims as 17-year old Andrea Michael and 15-year old Taylor Micheal of Marsland. Both attended Hemingford High School where Andrea was a junior and Taylor a freshman.

The Patrol says Andrea Michael was driving an SUV eastbound on Highway 2 west of Hemingford when it crossed the center line and was hit by a westbound pickup driven by 49-year old David Zaiser of Summerset, SD.

Zaiser was treated and released at Box Butte General Hospital in Alliance. The Michael sisters were killed despite wearing seat belts. Troopers weren't sure if Zaiser was also belted in.

Authorities are still trying to determine the cause of the accident, but investigators believe weather may have been a factor because a rain-and-snow mix was fall at the time of the collision.

The area's crisis response team was activated almost immediately after Hemingford school officials were notified of the accident, with a number of grief counselors and other trained responders from a number of communities on hand to meet with any students and staff.

A number of those counselors will return to the school Saturday morning from 9:00 till noon to meet with anyone wanting to use their services in dealing with the deaths of the Michael sisters.