Truck driver died near J-Lake

- The driver of a gravel truck died Wednesday afternoon when the truck left U.S. Highway 283 one-half mile east of Johnson Lake Drive and crashed into an irrigation canal.Gosper County Sheriff Dennis Ocken identified the driver as Merle Johnson, 71, of Lexington.

Ocken said an autopsy will not be ordered. The absence of any skid marks from applying the truck's brakes indicated that Johnson's death was medically related.