A La Vista man has died from injuries he sustained in an ATV accident near Plattsmouth.
Cass County Sheriff Department deputies and Plattsmouth Fire and Rescue responded to the accident near Bay Road and 48th Street around 5 p.m. on Saturday.
Authorities said 46-year-old Shawn Mason was riding a four-wheeler up a steep hill when it tipped backward, landing on top of him.
Mason's stepson, Tony Gambaiana, told Channel 6 News that his death is such a shock because Mason, who normally was safety conscious, wasn't wearing a helmet.
"An accident like this just takes our breath away completely considering he was so safe with everything about his life and everything around him."
Mason was taken to the Creighton Trauma Center by helicopter. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
Gambaiana says Mason, who spent 20 years in the Air Force, was a wonderful father figure. "He was what fathers are supposed to be and definitely what grandpas are supposed to be. He will be deeply missed."
Making the loss harder is the fact that Gambaiana and his wife are expecting their first child in a week. "To try and turn around and have the happiest day of our life with our firstborn coming in eight days is going to be an extreme roller coaster of emotions."
The Cass County Sheriff's Department is calling it an accident and say it is still under investigation.
