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Accident Claims Life of Falls City Area Pastor

By Matthew Leaf

09/11/2012

(KTNC) - Otoe County authorities continue to investigate a two-vehicle accident that claimed the life of a Nebraska City man who was serving as the pastor of a rural Falls City church.
The Otoe County Sheriff’s Department says 64-year-old Richard Fairbanks was killed in the accident at the intersection of 11th Street and Highway 2 early Monday afternoon.
The sheriff's department says Fairbanks was driving south on 11th Street – which is Highway 75 – crossing the westbound lanes of Highway 2 when his car was struck by a westbound semi tractor-trailer. The driver of the semi, Theresa Beckmann of Morrison, Illinois, says the traffic light turned green just before she reached the intersection. She told deputies that it appeared Fairbanks was talking on a cell phone as his vehicle entered the intersection.
Authorities say the front of the semi collided with the driver’s side of Fairbanks car.The Nebraska City News Press reports that rescue personnel had to remove the driver’s side door and peel back the roof in order to remove Fairbanks from the vehicle. He was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital in Nebraska City, where he was pronounced dead.
The Otoe County Sheriff’s Department continues to investigate the accident. Anyone who may have been southbound on 11th Street with Fairbanks at the time of the accident around 12:20 p.m. is asked to contact the Otoe County Sheriff’s Department. Investigators are trying to determine the status of the traffic lights at the time of the accident.
At the time of his death, Richard Fairbanks was serving as the interim pastor at the Bethel United Methodist Church east of Falls City.
A public prayer service is planned at eight o’clock this (Tuesday) evening at the church. Pastor Lyle Schoen , the pastor at Falls City First United Methodist and Rulo Trinity United Methodist,will lead the prayer service.

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