On Wednesday afternoon, an accident occurred in Norton County, resulting in the death of a motorcycle rider. Authorities reported that the collision took place at approximately 4:06 p.m. on the US-36 highway, located on the western outskirts of Norton. The Kansas Highway Patrol indicated that a 2013 BMW motorcycle, traveling eastbound, struck the passenger-side tires of a 1999 Mack semitrailer that was executing a left turn from westbound US-36 onto southbound Norton County Road W1. Following the impact, the motorcycle came to a halt facing north on US-36, while the semitrailer ended up facing south on Norton County Road W1.
The rider of the motorcycle, identified as 80-year-old Alan E. Gantert from Freeville, New York, was subsequently transported to Kearney Regional Medical Center in Kearney, Nebraska, where he was pronounced deceased. It was noted by the patrol that Gantert was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. The driver of the semitrailer, 78-year-old Robert W. Bowman of Norton, was reported to be unharmed and was wearing his seat belt during the incident.
