Douglas County Deputy Hit During I-80 Traffic Stop - FOX 42: Omaha News, Sports and Weather; kptm.com |

Maureen Wurtz

OMAHA (KPTM) - A Douglas County Sheriff's deputy went to the hospital after being rear-ended by a pickup truck Monday afternoon.

Officials said 18-year-old Lucas Greene rear-ended Deputy David Wintel around 2:15 Monday, both are expected to be okay.

Wintel was making a routine traffic stop on the I-80 westbound lanes at the Q street exit.

"All I can say is, I'm lucky to be here, because I probably should be dead," said Jason Otto.

Otto was pulled over by Wintel. His car was also hit in the accident.

"It could have been a lot different," said Douglas County Lieutenant, Mark Gentilie. "If they had both been in their vehicles, who knows what could have happened."

Otto and Wintel were standing on either side of Otto's Jeep when the police car was hit. "I took two steps, two steps-and the truck was flipping in the air," said Otto.

Otto said it was only a couple minutes after the accident when over a dozen police cars arrived. "It didn't sound good at all," said Gentilie. "We didn't know what happened, if it was all an accident, if he was shot-we didn't know."

"(It) Could have been extremely bad," continued Gentilie. "We could have had two fatalities-actually three with all the vehicles involved-and the deputy being out of the vehicle-as well as the passenger."

Whether you believe it was luck or a divine blessing, one thing is true; three people who probably should have been killed are alive.

Officials said a dog in the back of the Deputy's car seems to be okay, but will still get a full checkup Tuesday.

Police are still investigating the cause of the crash, but the said speed and alcohol don't appear to be a factor.