Just after 6:00 p.m. on Saturday evening the Stanton County Sheriff’s office responded to and investigated a one vehicle traffic accident that claimed the life of a 50 year old Madison farmer on 559th Avenue southeast of Madison. The accident is believed to have occurred earlier in the afternoon when a southbound pickup driven by Steve Hastreiter left the gravel county road entering the west ditch and struck a dirt embankment about 1.5 miles south of Hwy 32. Friends and family were looking for him after he failed to show up at home and the wreckage was discovered while searching area roads. Life saving efforts were undertaken, but Hastreiter was pronounced deceased at the scene. Seatbelts were not in use and the pickup is considered a total loss. The Sheriff’s office was assisted at the scene by Madison Fire and Rescue.
