1 dead, 1 injured in crash near Dalton

A crash near Dalton on Tuesday morning killed a man and sent his female passenger to the hospital with serious injuries. The Cheyenne County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information about the male driver of a second vehicle involved in the crash that left the scene.

Martin Geiger Jr., 45, of Sidney and Chappell, and his passenger, Kathy Berger, 53, of Bayard and Chappell, were driving north on U.S. Highway 385 two miles south of Dalton.

According to the sheriff’s office, Geiger attempted to pass another vehicle, also traveling north.

At some point, the vehicles made contact, sending Geiger’s car into the east ditch, where it rolled twice.

Geiger and Berger were not wearing seat belts, and both were ejected from the vehicle.

Geiger was pronounced dead at the scene, and Berger was transported by air to Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff.

On Wednesday morning, Cheyenne County Sheriff John Jenson said Berger was improving.

“She is slowly doing better,” he said. “I was on the phone with them this morning. She’s still in ICU, but they’re starting to get some response back.”

Jenson said a reward is being offered for information about the other vehicle and driver involved in the crash.

The vehicle is described as a white, 1980s, 2- or 4-door hatchback with a 3- to 4-inch black stripe along the bottom.

The sheriff’s office can be contacted at (308) 254-2922.