Highway 81 Crash Injures Three

(COLUMBUS, Neb.) — A serious traffic incident brought emergency crews to the area Sunday afternoon, prompting a response from multiple agencies. Three people suffered minor injuries Sunday afternoon following a two-vehicle collision on Highway 81 north of Columbus.

The Platte County Sheriff’s Office responded at approximately 2:30 p.m. Aug. 23 to the crash, located about a half-mile south of 265th Street, approximately 4.5 miles north of Columbus where the highway curves to the north.

According to investigators, a 2017 Toyota Sienna driven by 57-year-old Judy Scdoris of Lincoln was traveling southbound on Highway 81 when Scdoris lost control of the vehicle.

The Sienna entered the west ditch before traveling back across both southbound lanes and crossing the center median. The vehicle then collided with a northbound flatbed semi-trailer being pulled by a 2004 Freightliner semi-tractor.

The semi was driven by 33-year-old Vlatko Jovanovski of Elk Grove Village, Illinois. Jovanovski was not injured in the collision.

Scdoris and two minor children who were passengers in the Sienna were transported by Columbus Rescue to Columbus Community Hospital with minor injuries. All three were treated and released.

The sheriff’s office reported that seatbelts were in use by both drivers and all passengers at the time of the crash. Alcohol was not considered a factor.

The Sienna was determined to be a total loss, as was the semi-trailer. The Freightliner semi-tractor did not sustain damage in the collision.

The highway remained closed for more than 4.5 hours while crews worked to clean up the scene and remove the vehicles.

The Platte County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Columbus Rescue, the Nebraska State Patrol and the Nebraska Department of Roads.

The crash remains under investigation. Anyone with information about the collision is asked to contact the Platte County Sheriff’s Office at 402-564-3229 or Platte County Area Crime Stoppers at 402-563-4000.