An Iowa driver has been arrested and could face vehicular homicide charges in connection with the deaths of two people in a four-car crash Thursday,according to Scotts Bluff County Attorney,Ben Shaver.
Frank Roane 27,of Neola,Iowa,was arrested after being treated and released from Regional West Medical Center on Thursday. Trooper Tami Otto of the Nebraska State Patrol said Roane was arrested on two counts of vehicular homidide and viollation of a traffic signal. The "accident is still under investigation," she said.
He is scheduled to be arraigned in Scotts Bluff County on June 01,2001. Roane`s bond was set at $1,500.He posted bond and was released in approximately 6 p.m.
According to the Nebraska State Patrol,Roane was eastbound on U.S.Highway 26 and failed to stop at the red light at the intersection of Avenue 1 (Nebraska Highway 71) and U.S. Highway 26.
Roane`s semi first struck a 1998 Toyota Tacoma driven by Crystal Zimmerman,18,of Gerling.It then struck a 1979 Dodge van,killing Gladys Tracy,68,of Washington State and Willard Lundgren,67,of scottsbluff,who were northbound on U.S. Highway 71.
The van in turn struck a 1999 Lexus driven by Steve Haun,55,of Gering,who was westbound on Highway 26,as he was waiting at the stop light.
The accident occured at approximately 1:20 p.m. the intersection remained closed until 6:35 p.m.
According to Tracys grandson,she had been visiting her friend,Lundgren,and was considering moving to scottebluff.He said she had lived in Sheridan,Wyo., for a number of years but then moved to washington State.
twenty-four of the cattle in the semi were killed and the others were loaded into another truck and removed from the scene. Seat belts were in use only in the Lexus.All the vehicles involved were totaled.
