Lincoln, NE : Three people killed in fiery crash near Gibbon on Friday, 23rd September 2016

A semi-truck blew a tire and went out of control on Interstate-80 Friday, starting a chain reaction that killed three people and injured two others.

The wreck occurred around 4:22 p.m. Friday a mile east of the Gibbon exit.
The Nebraska State Patrol said a tire on an eastbound semi-truck blew as a 2013 Chevy Silverado pickup was passing. The truck hit the pickup and both vehicles went across the median into oncoming traffic.

In the westbound lanes, the first semi-truck hit the rear of a westbound semi-truck, and continued into a fiery collision with a 1989 Chevy K1500 pickup.

The second pickup rolled into the ditch and burst into flames. The semi-truck rolled onto its side and also caught fire, NSP spokeswoman Deb Collins said.

The Chevy Silverado pickup, carrying Terry and Lisa Purcell of Carter Lake, Iowa, came to a stop in the westbound driving lane.

The second semi-truck, driven by Jake Hofer, 42, of Lynden, Wash. was not disabled, but drove on to the Gibbon exit.

The driver of first semi-truck driver and two occupants of the second pickup were killed. Due to the fire, autopsies will be required to identify the victims with certainty, Collins said. The names of those killed have not been released, pending completion of autopsies and notification of families.

The Purcells were taken by ambulance to CHI Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney with non-life threatening injuries. Hofer was not injured.

The fatal crash closed portions of I-80 for nearly 4 ½ hours.

The Nebraska State Patrol was assisted by the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office and Fire and Rescue units from Gibbon and Shelton.

Source :
Three people killed in fiery crash near Gibbon