By Allison Peck
BRULE, Neb. — Emergency crews from across western Nebraska responded to a major multi-vehicle crash Saturday evening near Brule that resulted in multiple injuries, vehicle fires, entrapments, and a grass fire.
According to the Ogallala Volunteer Fire Department, county dispatchers were alerted to the crash at approximately 5:07 p.m. on May 30. Initial reports indicated multiple vehicles were involved and several people had been injured. While responders were en route, dispatchers received updated information that vehicles were on fire and multiple occupants were trapped.
Upon arrival, responders confirmed the reports and immediately began rescue and firefighting operations. Additional grass fire units were requested as flames spread from the crash scene into nearby vegetation.
Firefighters worked simultaneously to extinguish the fires and rescue trapped victims. Keith County EMS personnel triaged patients, provided treatment, and coordinated transportation for those injured in the crash.
After the fires were brought under control, crews conducted overhaul operations and performed secondary searches of all vehicles involved.
No injuries to emergency responders were reported.
The crash remains under investigation by the Nebraska State Patrol Reconstruction Team. Authorities have not released information regarding the number of vehicles involved, the extent of injuries, or any fatalities.
The incident occurred during severe weather conditions that created near-zero visibility, according to the fire department.
A large number of agencies responded or were placed on standby, including Keith County EMS, fire departments from Brule, Ogallala, Paxton, Keystone-Lemoyne, Big Springs and Sutherland, additional EMS crews from Paxton, Big Springs, Perkins County and Arthur County, Nebraska State Patrol, Keith County Sheriff's Office, Ogallala Police Department, Deuel County Sheriff's Office, Nebraska State Fire Marshal's Office, Nebraska Department of Transportation and others.
In a statement following the incident, the Ogallala Volunteer Fire Department praised the coordinated response among dispatchers, firefighters, EMS personnel, law enforcement officers, hospital staff and support agencies, crediting pre-planning, training and interagency cooperation for helping crews manage the complex emergency.