Speed, Alcohol Factors In Crash That Killed Two
Speed, Alcohol Factors In Crash That Killed Two Save Email Print
Pickup wraps around telephone pole
Posted: 6:15 AM Jan 11, 2009
 Last Updated: 6:52 PM Jan 11, 2009
 Reporter: Jake Buckingham
Email Address: sixonline@wowt.com
34 comments
A | A | A

Speed and alcohol are being blamed for the crash that killed two Omaha men Saturday night.

Police say a pickup was northbound on 84th Street when the driver lost control between J and I streets, striking a telephone pole around 11:30 p.m. When rescue crews arrived at the scene they found the truck wrapped around the pole.

The driver, Herman Sosa, was pronounced dead at the scene. The passenger, 21-year-old Jorge Rodriguez-Cruz, was taken to Creighton University Medical Center where he later died of his injuries.
More Stories
Court: Omaha Drug Bust Illegal

Girl Rescued From Pool Doing Better

Driver Gets Probation In Teen's Death

Motorcyclist Killed In Crash

 Holiday Enforcement Nabs Drunk Drivers

Lake Assault Could Bring Charges

Omaha Senator Considers Run For Congress

Report: Plane Quit, Restarted, Quit & Crashed
Post Your Comments
First Name:
Location:
Enter Comments: characters left
Email (optional):
By posting this comment I have read and agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy:
You must agree to the Terms of Service to continue.
Read Comments
Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.
Posted by: Rick on Jan 22, 2009 at 01:30 PM
If young people would just remember that a vehicle is something that can change your life in an instant - you can even loose your life by doing something stupid and not being safe. May both of these guys R I P and am sure they will be remembered to those who loved em.
Posted by: mimi on Jan 14, 2009 at 02:47 AM
This is so sick how people are using this for thier entertaimnet, SOMETHING TO DO BEFORE GOING TO BED OR WORK!!!!! I WISH YOU WOULD ALL JUST STOP AND PRAY TO GOD THAT YOU NEVER HAVE TO GO THREW THIS!!!!
Posted by: jirmy on Jan 13, 2009 at 05:22 PM
Never drink while you want to speed, if you want to speed then don't drink. speed drink = die
Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 13, 2009 at 02:17 PM
NEVER drink while you are driving. That certainly causes accidents.
Posted by: Roberto on Jan 13, 2009 at 01:30 PM
the person lost was one of my best friends this is shocking and i pray for him... please dont drive drunk...EVER..
Posted by: To BW on Jan 13, 2009 at 12:56 PM
I think your sentancing guidelines would be great if they would get approved. They should do something similar to all the men & women that are behind on the child support. Lock 'em up - force them to work to pay down the delinquent support payments / dui fines, then release them when they are all caught up.
Posted by: dan on Jan 12, 2009 at 05:15 PM
Part of the problem: Here's a solution, you drive drunk, get caught, you pay for the installation of the breathalizer in your car for 2 years, pay a 3,000 fine, spend 250 hrs driving other drunks to the store to shop because they can't drive because they did it twice. Our JUDGES need to make the penalties hurt and maybe, just maybe we won't have so much stupidity on our roads. I am tired of reading about drunk drivers.
Posted by: BW on Jan 12, 2009 at 03:46 PM
I understand that there is not enough prison space for ALL the DUI offenders out there. Why not house arrest for 12 months with daily UA's and a $5000 fine for first offense. The fine would be paid after the 12 months of house arrest by auto draft from paycheck so they remember why not to drink & drive. No paycheck - no drivers licesnse and higher fines! 2nd offense doubled and 3rd offense 15 year of prison life! That should scare them! Plus the city would be getting PAID!
Posted by: mayra on Jan 12, 2009 at 11:56 AM
drinking and driving is careless and iresponsivle. on 12-17-08 my ten year old cousinn died in a car rollover in texas because of a drunk driver. i think drunk drivers shuold get prison time for driving drunk because of the danger that they put themsleves and others. Do you think drunk drivers will learn just from getting a ticket? No!!! They will keep doing it until they realize that what drinking and driving does.....which is kill innocent people and especially someones child.
Posted by: Have to agree... on Jan 12, 2009 at 11:27 AM
...with many of the posters so far. Chad, MADD, Part of the problem and Scared Straight have hit the nail on the head.
Posted by: what? on Jan 12, 2009 at 11:13 AM
To Toodd: What kind of a comment is that? This has nothing to do with race... drunk drivers come in all colors and sizes. What an ignorant and incompetent statement!!! Mean spirited, hurtful people that cast racial judgements, such as yourself, make me sick to my stomach!
Posted by: Chad on Jan 12, 2009 at 10:52 AM
Penalties wont stop people from driving drunk. I used to do it alot when I was younger and I always thought "Im ok to drive." Now that Im older and wiser, I realize what a moron I was. I am soooo lucky that I never hurt anyone or myself. These people were probably thinking the same thing I was "I'm ok to drive."
Posted by: Part of the problem... on Jan 12, 2009 at 10:31 AM
While I have to admit that the "slap of the hand" sentancing makes me ill, I understand the reasoning. There are way too many offenders for dui & drug offenses for the jails to keep up. Maybe instead of "beautifying" our great city, the politicians can look at some new minimum security facilities in which to house the dui alcohol offenders.
Posted by: Scared Straight... on Jan 12, 2009 at 10:24 AM
If you have never seen the aftermath of a dui crash then you probably have no idea what you're risking by driving under the influence. It is a sad fact, but if the dui offenders (young and old) were shown pictures of crash sights & victims, then maybe they would start seeing the seriousness of their choices. Drinking & driving is not and ACCIDENT - it is a choice! People need to get educated before they become "just another dui statistic". The families & friends left behind are the ones who suffer.
Posted by: t on Jan 12, 2009 at 10:18 AM
I have sympathy for the family and friends of the two young men killed. I cannot imagine the pain and grief they are suffering right now because of their loved ones' drunk driving. I can only hope and pray that others take a moment to stop and look at themselves in their rear view mirror and think 'Am I ready to die today?'.
Posted by: CM on Jan 12, 2009 at 09:51 AM
It's been written that one of every drivers you meet on the road is legally "drunk." I find that hard to believe but if it is fact, then it is scary. We will never get drunks off the road; it's just not going to happen. As long as there are cars and alcohol, there will be drunk drivers. Hildo has it right. We can have all sorts of campaigns and diversion programs, etc, but it will not dissuade all drunk drivers. Too bad.
Posted by: MADD on Jan 12, 2009 at 08:21 AM
These stories always hit straight in the heart for me and other MADD members (many of whom have lost loved ones to dui drivers). It is so sad that crashes like these can be prevented with the simple fact that you should NOT drink and drive. How many lives have to be lost before people make a decision to get involved? I feel great sympathy for the families left behind by Mr. Sosa tragic decision. This crash could have been prevented.
Posted by: Tom on Jan 12, 2009 at 08:19 AM
Just a act of the higher powers thinning the herd of drunks.
Posted by: Pamela on Jan 12, 2009 at 07:31 AM
Obviously no there was no concern for the public's safety or their own safety. Were seat belts worn? Would a seat belt have helped these guys survive? I don't think the drunk driving will stop but maybe more check points and prime times would help.
Posted by: Toodd on Jan 12, 2009 at 07:26 AM
Where is all the "proud to be mexicans" now?
Posted by: Lindsey on Jan 12, 2009 at 01:29 AM
it is sad that we have had to read this headline twice in the last two weeks. i hope people will start to realize the importance of not drinking and driving. my prayers go out to theses families.
Posted by: Gloria on Jan 11, 2009 at 11:57 PM
How sad for the families and friends left behind to clean up after them. Funerals to pay for and financial problems to deal with, as well as grieving. Drunk driving isn't a simple thing, but I doubt if anyone will learn from this accident or any other. Terribly sad.
Posted by: Bob on Jan 11, 2009 at 08:54 PM
I can't feel sorry for these guys. I feel for their families but not for them. How did they build that much speed up in that area to "wrap" their vehicle around a pole. Total stupidity. I really can't feel sorry for drunk drivers. May they rest in peace but people, DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE. It's that simple.
Posted by: Kim on Jan 11, 2009 at 08:25 PM
Thank God they only killed themselves. The family has it bad now but they could be helping these estates through a civil suit too. My sympathies.
Posted by: Hildo on Jan 11, 2009 at 07:56 PM
All the so-called "punishment" in the world won't prevent people from getting in their vehicles and driving while under the influence (alcohol or substance), that is, unless they get caught and even if their license is suspended or revoked, they usually find a way to get on the road. Stricter "punishment" and advocacy campaigns (MADD, etc.) may dissuade some, but not everyone. I can only imagine how many are out on the road with the rest of us while under the influence and are simply lucky enough to make it somewhere without getting caught and/or killing themselves and/or others. No one in this instance "deserves" to die, and the passenger in this accident, while also intoxicated, was certainly innocent in the sense that he wasn't driving. I doubt they even felt anything when that pickup slammed into that pole.
Posted by: LArry on Jan 11, 2009 at 06:51 PM
Well tired of DUI's and dinking..Nowadays it all starts when they are teenagers,so if we are going to be that harsh on them as adults then maybe when caught over the zero tollerence level as kids they should also get 30 days or more in jail? My opinion is yes
Posted by: Amy on Jan 11, 2009 at 06:28 PM
Prayers are with the families. Prayers also going out to the rude people who have posted hateful comments.
Posted by: sam on Jan 11, 2009 at 06:15 PM
i saw that accident on my way home last night and i knew it was from drunk drivng. it was terrible.
Posted by: Joe Black on Jan 11, 2009 at 05:44 PM
More dead drunk drivers...I am done having sympathy. You Drunks just dont get it, so just keep killing yourselves.
Posted by: jim on Jan 11, 2009 at 03:35 PM
my guess was correct, Alcohol, we are at the top of the food chain but the most stupid species alive. Do we not learn that drunk driving kills, two less drunk drivers to worry about. I will be writing about this subject again in the future as I have in the past. DON"T DRINK AND DRIVE!
Posted by: Christina on Jan 11, 2009 at 02:37 PM
To many lives are lost to bad decisions and poor judgement. May God be with their families in their time of need. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Posted by: tired of DUI's & drinking! on Jan 11, 2009 at 02:00 PM
Those famous words, "Speed and Alchol", I am shocked. When will we pasee stricter punishment? What if they hit an innocent family? Enough is enough! Be resonsable or get 20 years. NO QUESTIONS ASKED! Time they had a reality check!
Posted by: Terri on Jan 11, 2009 at 11:16 AM
I came upon this accident very shortly after it happened. When it says in the story that the pickup was wrapped around the telephone pole, it literally was. I KNEW as I drove by that there were fatalities. Sad. My condolences to their families.
Posted by: jim on Jan 11, 2009 at 09:48 AM
I do hope that alcohol was not involved in their deaths but telephone poles are usually easy to avoid. I had my first experience with a drunk driver the same night at 9:48 Sat. night on 13th and between I and J street. I was driving north on 13th and was nearly hit by an out of control black compact car sliding sideways toward me and my family. Thank God I swerved out of his way. I would presume a drunk driver. He slid right in front of us and slammed into the curb. Then regrouped and off he went. I was a bit stunned and didn't get his license plate. I just hope he got where he was going safely and no one was hurt. I feel sorry for the victims families that were killed on 84th. Don't drink and drive Omaha.
Posted by: Christina Portillo on Jan 11, 2009 at 08:27 AM
I knew these boys and they were very fine young men. The loss will be felt by all and their families are in our prayers.
Posted by: jose on Jan 11, 2009 at 06:33 AM
I will miss you Herman. You were a good man to my sister. You will be missed.
Special Sections