One person was seriously injured following a collision between a semi and a sprayer vehicle this (Monday) morning, in Shelby County. Sheriff’s officials say the accident occurred at the intersection of County Roads F-32 and M-16, about two-miles west of Westphalia, at around 8:40-a.m.

The accident happened when a Case 3330 Patriot sprayer owned by Farm Service Co-op in Defiance, and driven by 48-year old Mark Schmitz, of Westphalia, and  a 2001 Peterbilt semi owned by Two Pair Trucking in Westphalia, and driven by 39-year old Thomas Muenchrath, of Earling, collided. 

Officials say the sprayer was stopped at the intersection of F-32 and M-15 facing south, while the semi was traveling west on F-32. After the sprayer pulled into the path of the semi, the vehicles collided and came to rest on the southwest corner of the intersection. Schmitz was not injured, and was able to remove himself from the sprayer. Muenchrath was pinned in the tractor portion of the semi, and had to be extricated by rescue personnel.

He was flown from the scene by LifeNet helicopter to a hospital in Omaha. A report on his condition is not available. Medivac Ambulance, along with personnel from the Westphalia and Panama Fire Departments and Earling Rescue, assisted Shelby County authorities at the scene of the crash.

(12:40-p.m. News)