Deadly Crash Tuesday Near Greenwood Claims Four Lives

GREENWOOD-(KFOR July 4)–Cass County Sheriff’s investigators on Wednesday provided an update to the deadly two-vehicle collision Tuesday night at Highway 63 and Church Road, about three miles east of Greenwood.

In a news release, sheriff’s investigators say shortly after 8pm Tuesday deputies and rescue crews from some area fire departments were called to the scene, where witnesses reported that a car driven by a 34-year-old Lincoln man was westbound on Church Road and failed to stop at the stop sign for Highway 63.  Hugo Buendia-Valverde proceeded through the intersection and was hit by a southbound truck driven by 22-year-old Justin Wiederin of Omaha.

Cass County authorities say one deputy arrived at the scene and found one passenger, later identified as 28-year-old Ricardo Jimenez-Beltran, who was ejected from the car and pronounced dead at the scene.  Buendia-Valverde was found in the driver’s seat and also was pronounced dead and the Cass County Attorney’s Office has requested an autopsy on him.  A back seat passenger, 39-year-old Alejandro Valverde-Jimenez was also pronounced dead at the scene.  Rescue crews pulled the front seat passenger of the car, 40-year-old Isaac Valverde-Arroyo, had passed away before he was going to be taken to a hospital.

Wiederin was given a preliminary breath test by the Nebraska State Patrol, but had a read out of zero.  He was taken to an Omaha hospital for a blood draw.

The crash remains under investigation and alcohol is believed to be involved.  All four people in the car were not wearing seatbelts.

7am Wednesday

What led to a deadly, two-vehicle crash Tuesday evening about 15 minutes northeast of Lincoln is under investigation.

Authorities say the crash happened at Highway 63 and Church Road, about three miles east of Greenwood in northwestern Cass County. Four people died at the scene, while one other person was treated for injuries at the scene.  Names of the people involved have not yet been released by the Cass County Sheriff’s Office or the Nebraska State Patrol.

Crews of several volunteer fire departments, including Greenwood, Ashland, Eagle, Murdock and Waverly, responded to the scene.