The community of Axtell is mourning the tragic and sudden loss of 48-year-old Joel Lungrin, who died Thursday afternoon in a devastating two-vehicle crash involving a semi-truck on the Avenue M-N Overpass in nearby Kearney.
Authorities with the Kearney Police Department reported that the crash occurred around 3:26 p.m. when Lungrin was traveling northbound in a flatbed pickup truck. For reasons still under investigation, officials say the vehicle crossed left of center and entered oncoming traffic, where it collided head-on with a southbound semi-truck and trailer.
Emergency crews responded quickly to the scene, but the impact of the collision caused catastrophic damage, and Joel Lungrin was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the semi-truck, operated by Food Bank for the Heartland of Omaha, was transported to a local hospital for treatment and later released.
Investigators have confirmed that preliminary findings show Lungrin’s vehicle left its lane of travel prior to the crash, though the exact circumstances remain under active investigation.
News of the tragedy has left the small community of Axtell and surrounding areas in deep mourning. Friends, neighbors, and loved ones are now remembering Joel Lungrin as a valued member of the community whose sudden passing has left a profound sense of grief and loss.
The Kearney Police Department extended condolences to Lungrin’s family, acknowledging the impact of the tragedy across the region.
As the investigation continues, the community of Axtell now comes together in grief, remembering and honoring the life of Joel Lungrin during this difficult time.
