Arkansas woman dies in Hwy. 81 accident

HARTINGTON — An Arkansas woman was killed in a motor vehicle collision west of Hartington Wednesday night. 

The Cedar County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Highway 81 and 84 junction about nine miles west of Hartington after it received a 911 call at 7:06 p.m. Wednesday. 

Elizabeth Soisouvanh, 21, of Waldron, Ark., was pronounced dead at the scene. 

During the investigation, the sheriff’s office learned that Soisouvanh was driving a 2017 Nissan Altima westbound on Highway 84, approaching the junction with 81 where she failed to stop at the stop sign. She was struck by a 2004 Kenworth W900 semi-truck driven by Loren Beitelspacher, 52, of Aberdeen, S.D. who was traveling southbound on Highway 81, said Sheriff Larry Koranda.

Beitelspacher was transported to Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, S.D. where he was treated for his injuries. 

Koranda said Soisouvanh was wearing a seatbelt while Beitelspacher was not. 

The sheriff’s office was assisted by Crofton Fire & EMS, Nebraska Department of Roads and Cedar-Knox Public Power.