Fremont Man Killed In Crash

A man who was killed when two pickup trucks collided Tuesday in Washington County has been identified.

Michael Baker, 49, of Fremont, died and two others were hurt, said Chief Deputy Ben Scherer of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

The crash occurred about 3 p.m. on U.S. Highway 30, a mile east of Kennard, Neb., when an eastbound 2005 Ford F 250 hit a bridge guardrail and then hit a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado head-on before catching fire, Scherer said.

Baker, who was driving the Ford, died at the scene. His son – Nicholas Baker, 25, also of Fremont – escaped from the truck and was flown to the Nebraska Medical Center.

Shawn Keesee, 36, of Herman, Neb., was driving the Silverado. He was later flown to the medical center. Keesee and Nicholas Baker were in serious condition Wednesday, a hospital spokesman said.

The Bakers, employees of Getzchman Heating in Fremont, were returning from a job in Harlan, Iowa. Keesee’s truck is registered with Anchor Construction in Gretna.

Enterprise 23 July 2010 (Large article and pictures)

One dead, two injured in Hwy. 30 Accident (by Stephanie Ludwig)

A Fremont man was killed and two others were seriously injured in a two-vehicle accident Tuesday afternoon that closed U.S. Highway 30 for several hours.

According to Washington County Sheriff Mike Robinson, an eastbound 2005 Ford F-250 on Hwy. 30 struck a guardrail about one mile east of Kennard and shifted into the westbound land. The F-250 then struck a westbound vehicle head on. The westbound vehicle, a 2006 Chevy Silverado, caught fire.

The accident occurred around 3 p.m.

The driver of the westbound vehicle, Michael E. Baker, 49, of Fremont, was declared dead on the scene. A passenger in the Silverado, Nicholas Baker, 25, also of Fremont, was able to escape the burning vehicle and was taken by LifeNet to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. Michael Baker was Nicolas Baker’s father.

The driver of the eastbound vehicle, Shawn Keesee, 36, of Herman, was taken to Memorial Community Hospital in Blair, then taken by LifeNet to UNMC. Keesee was alert and conscious after the accident.

Washington County Sheriff Chief Deputy Ben Scherer said that the Bakers were employees of Getszchman in Fremont, and were returning from a job in Harlan, Iowa.

Keesee was driving a company truck registered with Anchor Construction out of Gretna.

As of Thursday morning, Keesee and Nicholas Baker were listed in serious condition at UNMC.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating the cause of the accident.