The Nebraska State Patrol is investigating a fatal crash Saturday night southeast of Grand Island in Hamilton County that ended a pursuit by sheriff’s deputies. The dead driver was identified as 34-year old Jordan Eastman of Gilner.
Preliminary information released by the State Patrol shows that a Hamilton County deputy unsuccessfully tried to make a traffic stop on SUV driven by Eastman about 10:15 p-m Saturday.
A brief chase ended when the SUV crashed and overturned in a ditch near the intersection of two Hamilton County roads about 8 miles southeast of Grand Island. Eastman was ejected and transported to Grand Island Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office asked the State Patrol conduct the investigation into the incident to avoid conflict of interest issues. The investigation is ongoing.