Holyoke, CO : Three people identified who died in car crash on I-80 on Friday September 23 2016

The three people who died in a fiery, multiple vehicle crash on Interstate 80 near Gibbon have been identified.

Killed were Donald S. Cox, 73, of Columbia, Tenn.; Tanner Allen, 20, of Imperial; and Christopher W. Bieber, 22, of Holyoke, Colo.

Cox was the driver of an eastbound semitrailer truck; Allen was the driver of a 1989 Chevrolet pickup; and Bieber was the passenger in Allen’s pickup.

“This was a horrific accident, and our thoughts and prayers are with the families of everyone involved,” said Capt. Chris Kolb, Nebraska State Patrol commander in Grand Island. “We want to thank our law enforcement, fire and rescue partners for their assistance.”

The crash happened at about 4:22 p.m., Sept. 23 when an eastbound semi driven by Cox blew a tire as it was being passed by a 2013 Chevy Silverado pickup. The semi struck the pickup causing both vehicles to go through the median and into the westbound lanes of traffic.

The semi then struck the rear of a westbound semi before continuing down the westbound lane and striking a 1989 Chevy pickup driven by Allen. The impact caused the pickup to roll into the ditch where it caught on fire.

The semi also rolled onto its side and caught fire.

The Chevy Silverado pickup driven by Terry Purcell, 60, of Carter Lake, Iowa, came to rest in the westbound driving lane. The second semi, driven by Jake Hofer, 42, of Lynden, Wash., continued on to the Gibbon exit.

Purcell and a passenger in his pickup, Lisa Purcell, 55, of Carter Lake were both transported to CHI Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney where they were treated and later released. Hofer was uninjured.


Source :
Three people identified who died in car crash on I-80