The Nebraska State Patrol is investigating multiple crashes that left several people injured and closed parts of I-80 for several hours Thursday.

The initial crash occurred just before 1:00 p.m. Thursday near mile marker 244 on I-80 westbound. A passenger vehicle suffered a blown-out tire and lost control. A semi hauling cattle attempted to avoid the other vehicle and overturned. Neither driver was injured. There were 36 cattle in the trailer. 21 survived the crash.

As the first crash was nearing the end of clean-up at approximately 6:50 p.m., a second crash occurred approximately one mile east of the first crash. An NDOT arrow truck was parked on the shoulder of westbound I-80, directing traffic to move into the passing lane. A westbound semi then rear-ended the arrow truck.

The driver of the NDOT pickup suffered life-threatening injuries and was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. He has been with NDOT for 14 years. The driver of the semi was transported to Lexington Regional Health Center with minor injuries.

The second crash required the closure of westbound I-80. At approximately 7:40 p.m., while additional troopers were directing westbound traffic off I-80 at the Overton interchange, at mile marker 248, a Chevrolet Sonic drove around the barricade and continued westbound. Near mile marker 246, the Chevrolet rear-ended traffic that was moving slowly because of the previous crash. The vehicle hit both a Dodge 1500 pickup and a semi-trailer.

The driver of the Chevrolet and two occupants from the Dodge were all transported to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Chevrolet has been cited for DUI, possession of an open alcohol container, and driving on a closed roadway.

All three crashes remain under investigation. Westbound I-80 was closed for over four hours because of the second and third crashes. These responses involved numerous agencies, including NSP, NDOT, Lexington Fire Department, Overton Fire Department, AirCare, Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, multiple towing companies, and the Overton Vet Clinic.

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