A former Mitchell County resident died in an accident just after 9 a.m. on Wednesday near Asherville.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1990 Ford F150 pickup driven by Sean R. Cooper, age 39 of Clyde, was west-bound on U.S. 24 about five miles east of Beloit. Cooper’s pickup crossed the center line and struck a semi head-on.
Cooper was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to McDonald-Roberts Funeral Home in Beloit. He is survived by two daughters, a teen and an infant. The semi driver, 52 year old Yvette Lanz of Stanton, Neb. was not injured. Cooper was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash according to the KHP.
A five mile section of Hwy. 24 was closed for more than 12 hours on Wednesday while crews cleared the accident scene. The semi careened well off the roadway after the impact and had a broken front axle, making it difficult to remove from the wet conditions in the field where it ultimately came to rest.