The following is a press release from the Nebraska State Patrol:
(Lincoln, NE)- Six people were killed in four separate crashes on Nebraska roads from Friday, May 29-through Sunday, May 31, 2009.
80-year-old Harold Bartels of Beatrice was killed just after4:00 p.m., Friday, May 29, 2009, when the vehicle he was driving was struck by a semi trailer truck. Bartels was alone in his vehicle, westbound on Business Avenue in Beatrice, when he pulled onto Highway 77 and was struck broadside by the northbound semi. He was not wearing a seat belt.
A 5:00 a.m. crash Saturday, May 30, 2009, near mm 157 on Highway 75, one mile north of Macy, in Thurston County, claimed the life of a 23-year-old Ashley Grant of Macy. Grant was driving a 1999 Ford minivan southbound on Highway 75 when she lost control of the vehicle, which rolled. Two other passengers in the minivan were treated and released from area hospitals. Grant was not wearing a seat belt.
Three members of a Nebraska family were killed in a head-on crash near Broken Bow, in Custer County, Nebraska just before 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 30, 2009. 15-year-old Jacob Ita, of Murdock was behind the wheel of a 2008 Chevy Impala westbound on Highway 2, four miles east of Broken Bow, when the vehicle crossed the center line and struck an eastbound 2003, Ford F150 pickup truck. Two passengers in the vehicle 43-year-old Thad Ita, and 39-year-old Tricia Ita, both of Rockville, were also killed in the crash. Two other passengers in the Impala were injured. 10-year-old Martina Ita, of Murdock was transported to Creighton Medical Center in Omaha and 19 month old Jaelyn Ita, of Rockville, was treated and release from a Broken Bow hospital. The driver of the pickup truck, 17-year-old Gentry Doane, of Ansley, Nebraska was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital, in Kearney. All six people involved in the crash were buckled up. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
A mini bike-SUV crash claimed the life of an Omaha man. Shortly before 11:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 31, 2009, 26-year-old Clinton Lloyd of 4533 N. 41st , Omaha, was killed when the mini bike, (small motorized off road motorcycle) he was driving failed to stop at a stop sign and pulled out in front of a westbound SUV. The crash occurred at the intersection of 41st and Ames Avenue, in Omaha.
