A Russell man died Tuesday after his truck crossed the center line on a Barton County highway and collided head on with a semi-trailer.

Eugene Nuss, 82, was initially taken to St. Rose in Great Bend after the accident at 1:20 p.m. on U.S. 281, 13 miles northwest of Hoisington or three miles south of the Barton-Russell County line. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol Online Crash Logs, officers don’t know why his 2002 Chevrolet truck went left of center, striking the left front and side of the Kenworth rig driven by William Preston Sandy, 59, of Great Bend. Sandy was not injured.

Both men were wearing seat belts.

Units from the Barton County Sheriff’s Office, along with Hoisington Fire Department and Ambulance other agencies, assisted. Traffic was rerouted for a time.