By Allison Peck
A stolen vehicle reported from the North Platte area was involved in a pursuit and fatal crash Sunday in Dawson County.
The Dawson County Sheriff’s Office says it was notified October 4 of a stolen vehicle that was possibly being driven by a missing or runaway juvenile. The vehicle was reportedly traveling eastbound on Highway 30 after leaving the Gothenburg area.
Dawson County deputies located the vehicle and confirmed it matched the description of the stolen vehicle from the North Platte area. Deputies attempted to make a traffic stop, but the driver refused to pull over.
The vehicle continued eastbound through Cozad before deputies disengaged from the pursuit.
Several minutes later, the sheriff’s office received a report that a vehicle matching the description had rolled and crashed west of Lexington on Highway 30.
Deputies responded and found that the driver had been ejected from the vehicle. Emergency medical care was provided at the scene, but the driver later died from injuries sustained in the crash.
The Dawson County Attorney’s Office has ordered an autopsy, which was pending as of Monday.
The Dawson County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Nebraska State Patrol and Lexington Fire and Rescue. The Nebraska State Patrol is investigating the incident.
The sheriff’s office has not released the identity or age of the driver.