Hwy 68 accident closes westbound lanes

PHOTOS:

Golden Valley Firefighter-Paramedics use hydraulic cutting and spreading tools known as the ‘Jaws of Life’ to cut away car parts to extricate the trapped person in this vehicle.

Golden Valley Firefighters were busy this week with multiple accidents on Hwy-68, including one Saturday evening when a westbound vehicle struck two cows, killing both cows and destroying the car. Amazingly the driver escaped serious injury despite the damage indicated that at least one cow glanced off the windshield, partially crushed the roof and went over the vehicle.  Sunday at 2:30 pm, a westbound Dodge Pickup struck the side of a 1985 El Camino, trapping the 53 year old female passenger. Firefighters used the ‘Jaws of life’ to extricate the female patient and transported her, along with the 83 year old male driver.  The three occupants in the 2006 Dodge pickup, a 36 year old female driver and the passengers, a 35 year male and 2 year old female, all escaped injury, most likely due to being properly restrained.  Westbound lanes were partially blocked for nearly an hour when patients were removed and debris was cleared by DPS.  Golden Valley Fire officials remind motorists this stretch of highway experiences a high incidence of collisions and urge a “look twice and go once” mind-set to reduce such collisions.