Helicopter Crash on I-80

PRESS RELEASE from Dawson County Sheriff’s Office

On 09-25-2024 at approximately 6:05 p.m. the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a downed aircraft near road 755 and the Platte River. The Dawson County Sheriff’s Office responded, along with Dawson County Emergency Management, Lexington Fire and Rescue, Dawson Public Power, Nebraska State Patrol, and Nebraska Department of Transportation.

The aircraft was a helicopter that was spraying an herbicide in the Platte River for vegetation control. The helicopter was owned by Provine Helicopters located in Greenwood, Mississippi. The helicopter struck Dawson Public Power transmission lines resulting in the lines falling across the interstate. The interstate was then closed from mile marker 222 to mile marker 237 in both directions. Dawson Public Power responded and cleared their lines from Interstate 80. There was a loss of electric service in the area for a short period of time.

Lexington Fire and Rescue responded to the scene and transported the pilot to Lexington Regional Hlspital to be treated for injuries sustained in the crash. The name of the pilot is not being released at this time.

The FAA and NTSB were notified.

The Dawson County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Cozad Police Department, Lexington Police Department and the Nebraska State Patrol for providing traffice control during this incident.

~ Sheriff Mark Montgomery & Brian Woldt / Dawson County Emergency Management

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(LEXINGTON, Neb.) — Dawson County Scanner & Surrounding Area has indicated that a crash has caused power lines to be across the interstate, and they may be shutting down both lanes at mm 232 / 233. (Only Eastbound is Closed)

Updated to both directions! See below.

Initial indications are that it was a small aircraft. This 511 screenshot confirms the incident.

Stay tuned for updates!

Update : Small aircraft confirmed as a helicopter but we are awaiting more information about the situation as a whole.

Not so fast….