A rush hour accident in Sarpy County claimed the life of a driver late Monday afternoon.

Sarpy County Sheriff's Department deputies say 50-year-old Marsha Erwin of Gretna ran a red light and collided with a van at 144th Street and Giles Road just before 5 p.m.

She was not wearing a seat belt and died after being taken by helicopter to Creighton University Medical Center. The other driver, 44-year-old Melaine Ernst of Springfield, was treated and released from Midlands Hospital.

The crash forced the closing of 144th Street between Giles and Chandler. Traffic was backed up for more than three hours.