A Grand Island man has been sentenced to 60 days in jail and one year on probation for the March traffic accident near Ravenna that killed 52-year old Curtis Deines of Chadron.
26-year old Sergio Tinajero accepted a plea agreement that saw him plead guilty to misdemeanor vehicular homicide with prosecutors dropping a second charge in the case. He must also pay a $500 fine and take a driving course.
Investigators say TInajero was eastbound on Hwy 2 east of Ravenna about 5 am when his pickup crossed the center line and hit an SUV driven by 35-year old Jessica Ehlers of Grand Island and carrying Deines and 3 other railroad workers
The group had just completed a run from Alliance. Deines, a conductor, died at the scene while the others were taken to a Kearney hospital where they were treated and later released.
Curtis Deines was a native of Torrington, but had lived in Chadron since coming to Chadron State College in 1987 to play football. He was a rare 4-year starter at center with coaches saying he never missed a practice or game.
Deines was inducted into the Chadron State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012. His son, Colin, graduated from CSC last year and has just completed his first year as a member of the Chadron Police Department.