2 die in separate traffic accidents, including 1 person hit by multiple cars that didn’t stop

An Omaha pedestrian who fell into the street was hit by three separate drivers who failed to stop.

He died at the hospital after the first of two separate fatal traffic incidents Friday night in midtown.

The first occurred shortly before midnight, when officers were dispatched to 36th and Leavenworth Streets, where they found a pedestrian who had slipped and fallen into the roadway before being struck by multiple vehicles.

A witness who pulled over to help said the pedestrian, Julian A. Branker, 64, of Omaha, was using a cane to walk west along the north side of Leavenworth. Branker fell into the roadway and, according to the witness, was hit by three different westbound vehicles, none of which stopped.

Branker was taken to the Nebraska Medical Center and died shortly after arrival.

The only description of a vehicle that fled the scene is of a dark red SUV.

If anyone witnessed or has information concerning this incident, contact the Omaha police traffic unit at 402-444-5626 or Crime Stoppers at 402-444-STOP.

Shortly afterward, officers were dispatched to 36th and Dodge Streets, where they found a woman who had died after her red 2006 Ford Escape crashed into a concrete wall.

Nancy E. Lee, 64, of Omaha — the lone occupant of the vehicle — was pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation revealed that the vehicle was going east on Dodge St. and left the roadway to the south, striking a cable. The vehicle re-entered the roadway, then drifted back off it at 37th and Dodge Streets, striking a wall before rolling and colliding with landscaping and artwork in front of 3615 Dodge St.

Dodge Street was closed from 36th Street to 38th Street until 3:20 a.m. Saturday.

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