By: Panhandle Post
The Scotts Bluff County Sheriff's Office reports that a 17-year-old Hemingford boy died in a single vehicle accident, early Saturday morning, north of Scottsbluff.
According to a media release from Sheriff Mark Overman, the Scotts Bluff County Communications Center received a report of a vehicle “parked in a field” west of Highway 71 between Lake Minatare Road and Experiment Farm Road. Another caller reported the vehicle “may have been in a rollover accident.” The responding Deputy located a severely damaged vehicle in a field on the west side of the roadway. The Deputy located a young male later identified as 17 year old Daniel McDonough of Hemingford on the ground in close proximity to the vehicle. Two males were on scene and had stopped to render aid but did not witness the accident. McDonough was alive, but had serious head injuries and was also suffering from hypothermia. Valley Ambulance transported him to Regional West Medical Center where he died of his injuries.
Sheriff Overman said Investigation revealed that the vehicle was traveling northbound on Highway 71 between Lake Minatare Road and Experiment Farm Road when the driver lost control due to an unknown causes, causing the vehicle to slide sideways, running off the road where it rolled several times, ejecting the unrestrained driver and sole occupant.
The media release goes on to say, Investigation revealed that Daniel McDonough had stolen the vehicle from his brother’s girlfriend in Hemingford several hours earlier. Daniel’s brother and his girlfriend were not aware that the vehicle was missing until this incident occurred, and the Alliance Police Department contacted the registered owner. Daniel’s brother stated that Daniel did not have a driver’s license and did not know how to drive. Daniel was last seen at his brother’s residence at approximately midnight.
Daniel’s brother stated that Daniel may have taken the car without permission to drive to Walmart in Scottsbluff to purchase air-time for his phone. Sheriff’s Investigators confirmed that store surveillance footage showed McDonough purchase a phone card at 3:08 a.m. Saturday morning and video then shows him leaving the store in the stolen vehicle.
No drug or alcohol involvement is suspected in this case and no autopsy is planned.