Two killed in Monday crash north of Aurora
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Sheriff says accident was caused by truck brakes locking up
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The Nebraska State Patrol is assisting in the investigation of a collision between a pickup and a semi on Monday that took the lives of two occupants of the pickup. Hamilton County Sheriff Jeromy McCoy reports the crash occurred at about 3 p.m. on Highway 14 near the intersection with County Road 16, which is about three miles north of Aurora.
McCoy said the preliminary investigation revealed that a 2022 Kenworth semi tractor was southbound on Highway 14, when the vehicle’s brakes activated causing the truck to cross the center line where it collided with a northbound 2019 Dodge pickup driven by Nathan Omel, 42, of Grand Island. Omel died in the crash and a rear passenger, 66-year-old Cynthia Omel, also of Grand Island, was also pronounced dead at the scene. The front seat passenger, Marion Omel, 95 of Grand Island was transported to St. Francis Hospital in Grand Island, where he was hospitalized as of Tuesday morning.
The sheriff said the driver of the semi, Terrance Callahan, 34, of Kearney was not injured. Seatbelts were in use in both vehicles.
McCoy said the investigation is still ongoing and noted assistance at the scene was provided by Aurora Police Department, Aurora Fire and Ambulanc, and the Nebraska State Patrol.
"The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office expresses our condolences to the Omel family," McCoy said.
