On that dreadful Saturday, a sad tragedy occurred southwest of Lincoln, leaving the Lancaster County community in mourning. Bradley Kreifels, a 53-year-old Crete resident, was the victim of the tragic crash, according to the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office. The collision happened on Southwest 14th Street, just north of Nebraska 33, at approximately 12:30 p.m.
The devastating news that Kreifels had been declared dead at the scene was delivered by Chief Deputy Ben Houchin, a somber confirmation that rocked the neighborhood. The series of events that culminated in this heartbreaking catastrophe started when Beatrice resident David Warren, 39, was driving an SUV north on Southwest 14th Street. When the SUV struck the back of a grain trailer being towed by a semitrailer vehicle, the otherwise normal trip would take a terrible turn. The SUV struck a car carrying Bradley Kreifels and a passenger, sending it spinning wildly into the southbound lane. The impact was severe.
The tragedy was exacerbated when David Warren was hospitalized following the incident due to serious injuries. Fortunately, the injuries sustained by the passenger who rode in the same car as Kreifels did not appear to be life-threatening. Thankfully, the semi’s driver escaped the accident unharmed.
Following this terrifying event, law enforcement officials are actively seeking answers to the numerous questions that inevitably come up. The Sheriff’s Office is aggressively looking into whether drugs or alcohol may have contributed to this terrible disaster, according to Chief Deputy Ben Houchin. This is because it’s critical to identify the underlying causes of the accident in order to bring justice and closure to the impacted parties.
The community of Lancaster County is grieving the loss of Bradley Kreifels and holding their breath for the injured in this heartbreaking event. It serves as a sobering reminder of both the transience of life and the need of driving safely.