New Details On Pedestrian Hit, Killed By Logan County Deputy

A Nebraska man is struck and killed by a Sheriff's deputy trying to help him out. The Logan County Sheriff's Office says the man was walking in the middle of the highway around midnight Saturday morning when the two collided.

"It's an unfortunate accident that no one was in control of and everyone feels bad about," says Chief Deputy Richard Stephens, who was one of the first on scene.

Stephens says Deputy Mark Hanneman got the call from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol to check on a pickup truck that was parked facing on-coming traffic on I-35 near Guthrie.

"Hanneman drove toward the pickup at about 70 miles per hour when the truck's headlights blinded [him]," Stephens said.

"Unfortunately, the man was standing in the northbound inside lane of travel and the deputy did not see him due to the bright lights, his visibility was diminished and he wasn't able to see the man, striking the man unfortunately."

9/21/2013 Related Story: Pedestrian Killed After Being Hit By Deputy's Car Near Guthrie

Stephens says 46-year-old Danny Lundy of Nebraska died after going through Hanneman's windshield, hitting Hanneman before being ejected from the car. Lundy was walking along I-35 near mile marker 159 searching for a safety deposit box that fell off his pickup truck.

Stephens said Lundy was using his truck's bright lights to search for the item before Hanneman's car hit him. Lundy was visiting relatives in Kingfisher, some of them were in his truck at the time of the accident.

"This is never the way a family should remember their loved one," Stephens said. "This was a terrible accident, that was very gruesome in nature, and I think that that compounded the situation that those folks had to watch their loved one and have that last memory in that condition."

OHP and Logan County Sheriff's Office are investigating the accident. Stephens said no alcohol is said to be involved.

Hanneman, a veteran deputy, was taken to Integris Edmond Hospital and was released hours later. He suffers a broken collar bone and ribs, and a large amount of glass struck his face and eyes.