One man was killed in an early morning two-vehicle accident a half-mile east of Dorchester on Hwy. 33, Sunday morning.

Timothy Kersten, 28, of Hallam was pronounced dead at the scene after the 1998 Dodge Neon he was driving eastbound crossed the center line and collided head-on with a Pontiac Grand Prix traveling westbound, according to a press release from the Saline County Sheriff’s Office.

Saline County Sheriff’s Deputies were called to the scene at about 12:42 a.m. and were later assisted by members of the Crete and Friend Police Departments.

A passenger with Kersten and the driver of the Pontiac were injured and taken to Crete Area Medical Center by local rescue units.

Dorchester Volunteer Fire Department had the first rescue units on the scene just past the intersection of County Road 1500, while Crete Volunteer Fire and Rescue was called for a second ambulance.

Law enforcement had Hwy. 33 blocked to through traffic while the incident was investigated past 2 a.m. Sunday. Kersten was not wearing a seat belt. An autopsy is scheduled, according to the release.

Kersten was a 2000 graduate of Crete High School. In June of 2004 he married 2001 Crete High graduate Laura Feeken.

The couple lived in Crete, then moved to Hallam. Kersten attended Peru State College. He was employed by Lancaster County as an Operator.

Kersten is survived by his wife, Laura, their two children, Hailey, 2, and Wesley, 9 months, his parents, Doug and Anne Kersten, of Sprague, two sisters and his wife’s family. For a full obituary notice see inside this issue.

Services are scheduled for Friday, at 1 p.m. at United Church of Christ, First Congregational at 12th and Ivy in Crete.