A woman who has been charged in Friday morning’s downtown Omaha crash that killed four people was allegedly driving as fast as 105 to 116 mph and had a blood alcohol content level nearly three times over the legal limit, according to an affidavit by an Omaha police officer.
Rachel Bickerstaff, 33, was charged with three counts of motor vehicle homicide. Court documents noted Bickerstaff was previously convicted of driving under the influence in April 2020.
Police responded to the two-vehicle crash at 1:23 a.m. Friday, according to the affidavit filed Monday. The affidavit alleged Bickerstaff was speeding east along Douglas Street in a black 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee with a man and three children when she rear-ended a blue 2017 Subaru Outback driven by Mike Sales, a 70-year-old man from Council Bluffs, east of the 10th Street intersection.
The force of the collision caused Sales’ Subaru to strike a light pole and Bickerstaff’s Grand Cherokee to strike a tree. The affidavit said Bickerstaff’s vehicle rolled and then caught on fire, which then spread to Sales’ vehicle.
Omaha police on Friday investigate a crash that killed four people and injured two others near 10th and Douglas Streets. Rachel Bickerstaff, 33, was charged Tuesday with three counts of motor vehicle homicide.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Bickerstaff, a 38-year-old man and an 18-month-old child escaped the burning Grand Cherokee, the affidavit states. Two other children, ages 11 days and 5 years, did not escape and died at the scene. The Nebraska Department of Transportation’s Highway Safety Office identified the juveniles as Amilia and Amiliana Bickerstaff.
Sales did not escape his burning Outback and died at the scene. He had been driving home from his job at FedEx, relative Mindi Sales said.
Medics took Rachel Bickerstaff, the man and the 18-month-old to the Nebraska Medical Center. The affidavit said emergency room staff described treating the child’s injuries as “haunting.”
Officer Michael Pecha, a spokesperson for the Omaha Police Department, said the child died late Tuesday morning. The child, along with Bickerstaff and the man, had been taken to the burn center in the University of Kansas hospital system.
Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said Tuesday his office will add another charge of motor vehicle homicide against Bickerstaff once the 18-month-old child’s autopsy is complete.
A blood and toxicology report showed Rachel Bickerstaff’s blood alcohol content was 0.216. The legal limit is .08.
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Rachel Bickerstaff, 33, was charged with three counts of motor vehicle homicide. Court documents noted Bickerstaff was previously convicted of driving under the influence in April 2020.
Police responded to the two-vehicle crash at 1:23 a.m. Friday, according to the affidavit filed Monday. The affidavit alleged Bickerstaff was speeding east along Douglas Street in a black 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee with a man and three children when she rear-ended a blue 2017 Subaru Outback driven by Mike Sales, a 70-year-old man from Council Bluffs, east of the 10th Street intersection.
The force of the collision caused Sales’ Subaru to strike a light pole and Bickerstaff’s Grand Cherokee to strike a tree. The affidavit said Bickerstaff’s vehicle rolled and then caught on fire, which then spread to Sales’ vehicle.
Omaha police on Friday investigate a crash that killed four people and injured two others near 10th and Douglas Streets. Rachel Bickerstaff, 33, was charged Tuesday with three counts of motor vehicle homicide.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Bickerstaff, a 38-year-old man and an 18-month-old child escaped the burning Grand Cherokee, the affidavit states. Two other children, ages 11 days and 5 years, did not escape and died at the scene. The Nebraska Department of Transportation’s Highway Safety Office identified the juveniles as Amilia and Amiliana Bickerstaff.
Sales did not escape his burning Outback and died at the scene. He had been driving home from his job at FedEx, relative Mindi Sales said.
Medics took Rachel Bickerstaff, the man and the 18-month-old to the Nebraska Medical Center. The affidavit said emergency room staff described treating the child’s injuries as “haunting.”
Officer Michael Pecha, a spokesperson for the Omaha Police Department, said the child died late Tuesday morning. The child, along with Bickerstaff and the man, had been taken to the burn center in the University of Kansas hospital system.
Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said Tuesday his office will add another charge of motor vehicle homicide against Bickerstaff once the 18-month-old child’s autopsy is complete.
A blood and toxicology report showed Rachel Bickerstaff’s blood alcohol content was 0.216. The legal limit is .08.
Woman charged in fiery Omaha crash that killed 4 was allegedly drunk, driving over 100 mph
An 18-month-old child being treated for injuries in Friday's crash downtown died late Tuesday morning, an Omaha police spokesperson said.
