(Central Nebraska Today)
FUNK — At approximately 9:38 p.m. on Friday Aug. 15, 2025, the Phelps County 911 Center received communications regarding a multi-vehicle accident at the intersection of Highway 6/34 and Road T located just west of the Village of Funk.
Multiple fire, law enforcement and EMT agencies immediately were dispatched to the call and upon their arrival they found a Chevy Silverado and Ford F-250 ablaze with substantial crash-related damage. A Chevy Suburban with substantial drivers’ side and front-end damage was also located at the scene. A single adult male occupant of the Ford F-250 Pickup was extracted and transported to Phelps County Memorial Hospital. He was later transported to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney in serious but stable condition.
Following extinguishment of the vehicle fires, firefighters located three adult male victims in the Chevy Silverado who had succumbed to injuries sustained during the crash and resulting fire. Their bodies were transported to Omaha and are currently awaiting the performance of an autopsy. The identities of these victims are being withheld pending the completion of the post-mortem examination.
Two additional accident victims, associated with the Chevy Suburban, were also located on-scene. The first of these victims was an adult female who was life-flighted from the scene to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney in critical condition. She is currently in a hospital in the Kansas City area and is currently listed in serious but stable condition. The second passenger in the Suburban was a minor child who was reported to be in good condition following transport, by private vehicle, to Kearney County Health Systems in Minden. The child was ultimately released with no discernible injuries.
An investigation into the cause of this tragic accident is currently on-going and is being conducted by the Nebraska State Patrol with support from the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department.
The Phelps County Attorney’s Office extends its deepest sympathies to the families of those involved, especially to those who perished. The County Attorney’s Office would also like to extend its appreciation to the many first responders who assisted with this matter and exhibited the utmost urgency and professionalism under extremely difficult circumstances. The Phelps County Attorney’s Office, along with its partners in law enforcement, will exhaust all avenues to determine the cause of this accident in an effort to provide the survivors and loved ones of the deceased with the answers they deserve.
While a number of witness accounts of Friday night’s accident have already been obtained by law enforcement, anyone who witnessed this incident, assisted with its immediate aftermath or who has any additional information that could be helpful to the investigation are urged to contact the Phelps County Attorney’s Office at (308) 995-2293; the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department at (308) 995-5692; or the Nebraska State Patrol-Troop D Headquarters at (308) 535-8050.
Additional details will be provided as circumstances warrant and details emerge from the on-going investigation.
