At about 7:44 a.m. on Thursday morning the Stanton County Sheriff’s office responded to and investigated a two vehicle accident on 563rd Avenue about seven miles northwest of Leigh that claimed the life of one driver and seriously injured the other driver. The accident occurred when a southbound SUV driven by Kelsey Hake, 35, of rural Leigh collided nearly head-on with a northbound sedan driven by Christina Brandl, 20, of Humphrey at the crest of a hill on the county road. Hake and her two children were unrestrained and were transported to Faith Health in Norfolk by ambulance. Kelsey Hake was later transferred to an Omaha hospital for further treatment and her daughters were treated at Faith Health. Brandl was pronounced dead at the scene and the roadway was closed for about two hours as the scene was investigated. Multiple airbags deployed in both vehicles and both vehicles were destroyed in the collision. The investigation is being continued by the Sheriff’s office and an post-mortem has been scheduled in Omaha on Brandl. Leigh and Clarkson Fire and Rescue responded to the scene along with Stanton County Emergency Management. Norfolk Fire and Rescue also responded and intercepted with advanced ALS. LifeNet medical helicopter also was summoned but did not land at the accident scene.
