OGALLALA — The Nebraska State Patrol is investigating two separate crashes that resulted in one fatality, several injuries, and multiple closures of Interstate 80 on Saturday.
The first crash occurred at approximately 3:30 p.m. CT Saturday, near mile marker 226. A semi had stopped in the head-to-head construction zone on I-80 near Cozad and was rear-ended by another semi. The collision caused the second semi to catch fire and block both directions of travel on I-80. Two occupants of the first semi were transported to the hospital in Cozad with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the second semi was not injured.
During response to that crash, a secondary crash occurred involving another semi and an RV. The driver of the semi and five occupants of the RV were transported to Lexington Regional Health Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Interstate 80 was closed for approximately two hours during response to the first set of crashes.
Later, at approximately 5:10 p.m. MT Saturday, NSP received a report of a multi-vehicle crash near Brule, at mile marker 118. Preliminary investigation shows that a dust storm occurred in the area, leading to a crash that involved 16 vehicles, several of which caught fire. Both directions of travel were closed on I-80. One driver was pronounced deceased at the scene, and five other people were transported to Ogallala Community Hospital with serious injuries, one of which is considered to have life-threatening injuries. The deceased driver has been identified as Steven Wichman, 56, of Pocahontas, Iowa.
The large scene required extensive investigation and clean-up. I-80 westbound reopened at approximately 11:40 p.m. MT. I-80 eastbound reopened at approximately 2:50 a.m. MT Sunday.
Both crashes remain under investigation. Troopers were assisted by numerous public safety partners in these incident responses.