Two Die In Separate Traffic Accidents In The Panhandle

      There were two traffic deaths in separate accidents in the Panhandle over the weekend, one Friday morning east of Gering and the other Saturday night near Bridgeport. 

      The Nebraska State Patrol says 69-year old Louis Schiavone of Bayard was northbound on Hwy 71 a mile south of its junction with Hwy 92 at Gering just after 7 AM when his motorcycle crossed into the southbound lanes.

      The Patrol says the motorcycle then collided with a pickup driven by 51-year old Robin Neal of Scottsbluff. Schiavone died of injuries from the crash while Neal was unhurt.

       A teenage boy was killed in a single-vehicle accident Saturday night on a county road about 8:00 near Bridgeport. A release from the Morrill County Attorney’s office gave no name or age for the victim.

     Authorities say 2 teenagers, one 16 and the other 17, were returning home from work on a county road about 6 miles northeast of Bridgeport when the driver lost control on a curve and the vehicle rolled..

     The passenger was pronounced dead at the scene while the driver was transported by Air Link helicopter to Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff, where he was treated and released.

     Authorities said that restraints appeared to be in use and neither drugs nor alcohol were a factor in the accident.