Omaha, NE (April 30, 2026) – Three people were hurt in a chain-reaction crash on the Dodge Expressway near 118th Street in Omaha on Wednesday, April 29.
Emergency units were dispatched to the scene at around 5:58 p.m. According to the preliminary investigation, a Toyota Highlander struck the rear of a Buick sedan. A box truck then hit the back of the Highlander, which caused the Highlander to rear-end the Buick a second time.
Three people in the Highlander were hurt. The backseat passenger was taken to a hospital with severe injuries. The driver and front-seat passenger were also taken to the hospital with injuries.
Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash, and more details will be released as soon as they become available. We are thinking of all three people hurt as they receive medical care.
How Do Chain-Reaction Rear-End Crashes Happen on Nebraska Expressways?
Chain-reaction rear-end crashes occur when one collision triggers a second or even third impact in rapid succession. On busy expressways like the Dodge Expressway in Omaha, traffic can slow or stop suddenly, leaving drivers behind with little time to react. When following distances are too short, even a minor initial impact can set off a series of collisions.
The involvement of larger vehicles like box trucks adds another layer of danger in these situations. Heavier vehicles carry more momentum and take longer to stop, which means the force they bring to a secondary impact can be significantly greater than the original crash. Passengers seated in the rear of vehicles are especially vulnerable in these multi-impact crashes, as they have less structural protection behind them than those seated toward the front.
