Investigators have identified the 19-year-old who was killed in a crash, just south of Gretna, Sunday.
Investigators say a car was heading eastbound on Highway 31, at 198th Street, when the driver, Charles Langer, lost control and went onto the dirt shoulder on the south side of the road. The vehicle veered across both lanes, flipped onto its side and slid across a cement driveway. It then rolled onto its top, partially ejecting Langer, who died at the scene.
A passenger, identified as 24-year-old Regena Bennett managed to get out and went to a nearby home for help. She was taken to Creighton University Medical Center with minor injuries.
“I'm just really sorry that somebody had to get hurt out of it,” said Sherry Simmons. “I wouldn't want that phone call in the morning about my family.” The accident happened right outside Simmons’ home. She was asleep, until she heard the doorbell ring. “She just laid on the doorbell because she was trying to wake somebody up.”
That urgent call for help came from the passenger. “She just kept saying he was unresponsive and she said she was half asleep, not really paying attention in the passenger seat and she didn't really know what happened. I asked her if a deer ran out in front of her.”
But it wasn't a deer. Simmons says the woman said the driver was her boyfriend and they were from Omaha, heading home from a party in the area.
Simmons is grateful she was able to help. “It’s terrible. I'm glad that she was able to come someplace close to be able to call 911. I was worried about her going into shock.”
The Sarpy County Sheriff's Department is still trying to determine whether speed or alcohol were factors in the accident.
