The Nebraska State Patrol is investigating a fatal crash late Thursday afternoon during the massive fire department and law enforcement response to the large grassfire in the Elwood area.
The Patrol says a Ford Expedition driven by Phelps County Emergency Manager Justin Norris, with passenger Darren Krull, Chief of the Elwood Volunteer Fire Department, was struck head on by a truck hauling water approximately eight miles north of Arapahoe on Highway 283.
Investigators say Chief Krull died at the scene from injuries suffered in the crash.
Darren Krull was 54 years of age;
Justin Norris, of Holdrege, was taken to the hospital in Cambridge with life-threatening injuries.
He was then transferred to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney in stable condition and has since been transferred to a hospital in Omaha.
He remains in stable condition as of Friday morning.
The Patrol says the driver of the water truck, 28-year old Andries Van Aswegan of Arapahoe, was not injured in the crash.
Investigators say the fire and smoke in the area had created zero-visibility conditions on the roadway at the time of the crash.
The investigation continues.
(Picture from Nebraska State Patrol)