Leaving The Scene of a Property Damage Accident

DATE & TIME: 07-08-2018 / 0300

LOCATION: Highway 136 and South 51^st Road

OFFENSE: Leaving The Scene of a Property Damage Accident

CASE #: 2018-3421

Deputies from the Gage County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a traffic accident east of Highway 136 and South 51^st Road on Sunday, July 08, 2018 at approximately 11:59 am. The resident at that address discovered that a vehicle traveling eastbound on Highway 136 had left the highway, traveled across her front yard, and struck a large tree on the east side of her yard. The vehicle was still in her yard when she called, but she was unable to provide a time of the accident.

An investigator with the sheriff’s office contacted the registered owner who stated his girlfriend, 30-year-old Erin McIlheran of Crab Orchard, Nebraska had been driving the vehicle when the accident occurred. McIlheran met the investigator at the sheriff’s office approximately 12 hours after the accident occurred, admitted to driving the vehicle around 3:00 am, stating she swerved to avoid several deer in the roadway, and also described the vehicle dynamics of the accident consistent with the evidence found at the scene. The registered owner did not have any evident injuries, but McIlheran did have injuries consistent with the severity of the accident and damage to the vehicle.

When questioned about why she did not report the accident, she stated she did not know what to do when having an accident while driving someone else’s car. She said she called a friend, but that friend was unable to come pick her up, so she walked home to Crab Orchard.

McIlheran was cited for leaving the scene of a property damage accident. It is unknown if alcohol was involved in the accident. Safety restraints were believed to have been used and front and side airbags did deploy in the vehicle.

Sheriff Millard “Gus” Gustafson #903

Investigator T. Hanson #90310