A 16-vehicle crash Saturday on I-80 near Brule claimed the life of one driver and sent five others to the hospital with serious injuries.

The Nebraska State Patrol is investigating that crash as well as another that occurred earlier Saturday near Cozad.

NSP spokesman Cody Thomas said around 5:10 p.m. MT Saturday, a multi-vehicle crash occurred near Brule. Preliminary investigation shows that a dust storm occurred in the area led to the crash. Several of the 16 vehicles caught fire.

Both directions of travel were closed on I-80. One driver was pronounced dead at the scene, and five others were taken to Ogallala Community Hospital with serious injuries, one with what is considered to be life-threatening injuries, Thomas said.

The deceased driver has been identified as Steven Wichman, 56, of Pocahontas, Iowa.

The large scene required extensive investigation and clean-up. I-80 westbound was closed for more than six hours, reopening at approximately 11:40 p.m. MT. I-80 eastbound remained closed deep into the night, reopening around 2:50 a.m. MT Sunday.

Earlier Saturday, a crash occurred around 3:30 p.m. about four miles east of Cozad. A semi-truck that was stopped in the head-to-head construction zone on I-80 near Cozad was rear-ended by another semi-truck, Thomas said.

The collision caused the second semi-truck to catch fire and block both directions of travel on I-80. Two occupants of the first semi-truck were transported to the hospital in Cozad with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the second semi-truck was not injured.

During response to that crash, a secondary crash occurred involving another semi-truck and an recreational vehicle (RV.) The driver of the semi-truck and five occupants of the RV were taken to Lexington Regional Health Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

I-80 was closed for approximately two hours during response to the first set of crashes near Cozad, Thomas said.

Both crashes are under investigation. Troopers were assisted by numerous public safety partners in these incident responses.

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