Two dead after driver falls asleep near Shelby, Neb.

POLK COUNTY, Neb. — According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office, a fatal car accident claimed the life of two drivers this past Friday when a driver fell asleep at the wheel.

According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office, the collision took place east of Shelby on Highway 81/92 shortly after 10 pm. The victims were identified as Jesse Vasquez Espinoza Jr, a 42-year-old resident of North Dakota, and Viola Peace, a 60-year-old from Polk County, Nebraska.

Polk County Sheriff, Dwaine W. Ladwig, reported that a 1990 Chevrolet pickup, driven by Vasquez-Espinoza Jr, was travelling west when the driver fell asleep at the wheel. As a result, the pickup veered across the center line, colliding with a 1999 Chevrolet Malibu driven by Peace.

Trapped in their vehicles, both drivers required extrication. Peace was pronounced dead at the scene. Vasquez-Espinoza Jr was transported to Columbus Hospital in Columbus and later airlifted to Bryan LGH West in Lincoln where he died from his injuries.

Polk County Sheriff’s office is still investigating the accident.

Updates will be posted as information becomes available.