A 22-year-old Plattsmouth woman has been sentenced to probation and jail time for her involvement in a December crash that claimed the life of a 63-year-old man.
Ashley Baumgart had pleaded no contest to misdemeanor motor vehicle homicide. Monday, Cass County Judge Timothy Phillips sentenced her to two years of probation and 30 days in jail.
Deputy County Attorney Rick Fedde said Baumgart must serve the jail sentence only if she does not successfully complete probation.
Officials said Baumgart unintentionally caused the death of Leonard Kaffenberger, from Murray, Nebraska, because she was driving carelessly or following too closely. The collision occurred Dec. 17 on U.S. Highway 75 near Beaver Lake.
Cass County Sheriff’s Office investigators said Kaffenberger, in a 1992 Chevy pickup truck, was trying to turn left from Highway 75 into a private drive when he was struck from behind by Baumgart, driving a 2015 Ford Fusion.
The impact pushed the pickup into a 2015 Dodge Durango.
Kaffenberger was taken to the hospital in critical condition and died Dec. 28. Baumgart and the occupants of the Durango suffered minor injuries.
Baumgart faced up to one year in jail.
