Grief counselors will be on hand at the Audubon Community School District today, following a crash Saturday afternoon in Cass County that claimed the lives of three people, including an 8th grade student and his 5th grade brother.
Fourteen-year old Jameson Steckler and his 11-year old brother Gavin, of Audubon, along with 41-year old Rodney Shayne Sanborn, of Gretna, Nebraska died in the crash that happened just after 9-a.m. Saturday on Interstate 80 about two-miles west of Anita. Sanborn was a youth coach with the Omaha AAA Hockey Club.
The crash happened when a semi went out of control westbound crossed the median and collided with a minivan driven by Toby Steckler, before both vehicles went into the ditch. An SUV driven by Daniel Doggett, of Gretna, Nebraska, hit the trailer of the semi that had remained on the road, blocking traffic. Eight other people, including 43-year-old’s Pamela and Toby Steckler and their son 10-year-old Mason Steckler, the parents and younger brother of Jameson and Gavin, were injured in the crash.
Three of the other victims, 14-year-old Haden Doggett, 47-year-old Kim Doggett, and 50-year-old Daniel Doggett, are from Gretna, Nebraska, one 14-year-old Haden Rast, is from Cedar Rapids, and another 14-year-old Tyler Sanborn, is from of Bellevue, Nebraska.The driver of the semi was not injured.
Audubon Community School District Superintendent Brett Gibbs, Sunday, said of the two boys who died in the crash, they “Were wonderful students, classmates and teammates who were actively involved in school athletic and music activities.” He said “The Steckler family as a whole are very involved in school, community and church activities touching lives throughout the greater Audubon area.”
Gibbs said also a Safe room will be set up in both district buildings Monday staffed with school counselors.
(Reporting by Ric Hanson, KJAN, Atlantic)