Man accused of motor vehicle homicide in crash that killed Ceresco officer

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A man has been accused of a felony in the crash that killed a Ceresco Police officer earlier this year.

Tony Pierce, 50, was arrested on suspicion of felony motor vehicle homicide, the Nebraska State Patrol announced Tuesday.

The crash happened on April 12, while Ceresco Police Officer Ross Bartlett was making a traffic stop on Highway 77 in northern Lancaster County.

During the stop, Bartlett’s patrol vehicle and a Nissan Altima, driven by a 27-year-old man, were parked on the shoulder of Highway 77, the patrol said.

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Bartlett and the driver of the Nissan were in their vehicles when a southbound Ford F-150, driven by Pierce, hit the patrol vehicle from the rear.

The collision caused the patrol vehicle to crash into the Nissan, according to the patrol.

Bartlett died later that night from his injuries.  Pierce and the driver of the Nissan had non-life-threatening injuries.

During an investigation, troopers suspected “phone use” was a factor in the crash, the patrol said.

Pierce turned himself in Tuesday morning.

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Bartlett began serving with the Ceresco Police Department in 2017.  He was also an investigator with the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, while also serving as a volunteer firefighter in Ceresco.