Victim Identified in Kearney Trail Collission

The driver / victim has been identified as Ronald D. Ayers, age 72, of Kearney, NE.  Next of kin have been notified.  An autopsy has been ordered by the Buffalo County Attorney’s Office.  The incident involved a Union Pacific Rail Road train car and a 2014 Dodge van.  The section of highway was closed for approximately 4 hours during the investigation.          

  The crash occurred at approximately 12:30 PM on Thursday July 18, 2024.  According to preliminary investigation, a transportation van was traveling westbound on US Highway 30 east of Cherry Ave just outside the city limits of Kearney, NE.  At this location, a UPRR train was backing up on a railroad service track that crosses the highway.  As the train was backing, it collided with the westbound van.  The van, occupied by the driver and lone passenger, received significant damage.  The driver of the van, preliminarily identified as an older male driver, was deceased at the scene.  The only other occupant was an adult female, who reported no injury.  The van driver was located deceased at the scene.  

Deputies were assisted at the scene by members of the Kearney Police Department, Kearney / Buffalo County Fatality Accident Investigation (FAIT) team, Kearney Volunteer Fire Department, CHI GSH Paramedics, Nebraska State Patrol, Nebraska State Department of Roads and Buffalo County Attorney’s Office.