MERNA— Additional details have been released following the fatal accident that took place on Thursday, July 11 west of Merna. According to the Nebraska State Patrol, a red Dodge 1500 was traveling east on NE Highway 92, driven by 40 year old Roman B. Romero of Temple, Texas, when it crossed the center line.
At the same time a white pickup hauling a flatbed trailer being driven by Kevin Jensen, 49 of Broken Bow, and occupied by his two children, Erik and Brock, both 19 of Broken Bow, was traveling west.
Upon impact the white pickup and trailer flipped onto the side, rolled into the north ditch where the trailer spun around and smashed into the cab of the pickup, and trapped Kevin and Erik. Brock was able to crawl away from the vehicle with minimal injuries. Erik was removed from the vehicle and taken to a hospital by medical helicopter with non-life threatening injuries and was released later that evening.
Kevin was trapped in the pickup for around three hours before rescue crews were able to stabilize the trailer and pickup and remove him from the scene. He was also flown by medical helicopter from the crash and according to the Custer County Sheriff’s Office, Kevin was planning on being released from the hospital on Friday, July 12.
The red pickup, driven by Romero, suffered catastrophic damage from the impact and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Nebraska State Patrol, Custer County Sheriff’s Office, Broken Bow Fire and Rescue, Merna Fire and Rescue, and countless other responded to the scene that shut down a section of NE Highway 92 for over five hours.
Seatbelts were used by all occupants in both vehicles.
The investigation is currently ongoing.
