Motorcyclist killed in multi-vehicle crash on Highway 6 near Lincoln

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A Lincoln man was killed late Thursday night in a crash on Highway 6.

The crash happened about 11 p.m. just west of the Interstate 80 interchange, according to the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office.

Chief Deputy Ben Houchin said that before the crash, two Dodge Chargers were driving side by side with three Harley-Davidson motorcycles behind them.

The two cars slowed down, and one of the motorcycles abruptly braked, causing a chain of collisions.

One of the motorcyclists, 55-year-old Bradley Krutz of Lincoln, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Another motorcyclist, a 60-year-old man from Murdock, was also taken to a hospital for injures that were not life threatening.

Authorities said a third motorcycle, driven by a 22-year-old from Lincoln, hit some debris.

Uninjured, he then pulled over and briefly laid his bike down. He then picked it up and drove off, knowing that people were injured, Houchin said.

The rider was later found and interviewed, but it’s unclear whether he’ll be cited.

The speed limit on Highway 6 is 55 mph, and Houchin said officials don’t believe the two cars were speeding at the time.

But they do believe speed was a factor with the motorcycles.

And deputies are investigating whether the drivers of the cars were street racing before the crash.

“I don’t think they knew the motorcycles were behind them,” Houchin said. “What we’ve learned when they are doing these kinds of races, is they get side by side, they honk the horn three times and off they go. So we are interviewing witnesses and trying to determine if that actually happened.”

Houchin said the area around 70th Street and Arbor Road is a popular spot for street racing.

“There’s a reason why there’s speed limits,” he said. “There’s a reason why we don’t let people race on the roads. It’s sad that someone had to lose their life last night over this.”

Officials are still determining whether alcohol or drugs were involved, and if all the riders were wearing helmets.

Houchin also gave a reminder that the repeal of Nebraska’s motorcycle helmet law doesn’t go into effect until Jan. 1. Until then, helmets are not optional.

“You certainly lower your chances of surviving in one of these situations if you don’t have a helmet on,” he said.