An early-morning crash in Buffalo County claimed the life of a Chadron man and left several others hospitalized.
According to a press release from the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office, at approximately 4:45 a.m. on Friday, deputies responded to the scene of a two-vehicle crash on Highway 2 east of Ravenna. Curtis Deines, 52, of Chadron died at the scene.
An investigation showed that a 2016 Chevrolet pickup, which was driven by Sergio Tinajero, 25, of Grand Island, was westbound on Highway 2 near the intersection of Pawnee Road. A 2019 Ford SUV, driven by Jessica Ehlers, 35, of Grand Island, was eastbound on Highway 2. The vehicle driven by Ehlers had four additional occupants, including Deines. The two vehicles collided.
The remaining victims of the crash were transported to CHI Health Good Samaritan in Kearney. A portion of Highway 2 near the crash remained closed for approximately five hours. The crash remains under investigation.
Deines was a part of the Chadron State College class of 1991 and was a CSC Football Hall of Famer. He was a four-year starter at center and came to CSC from Torrington, Wyo.