Omaha DUI Crash Claims 2nd Child, 5, as Driver Faced 98 mph Homicide Charge

Q: The driver faces homicide charges, but what separate multi-million dollar civil battle now awaits him from the victims' families?

He now likely faces separate wrongful-death civil lawsuits from the families of the two boys killed in the crash. Those cases would be independent of the criminal prosecution and would seek money damages for losses tied to the deaths, including medical and funeral expenses, loss of companionship and parental guidance, and other economic and emotional harms recognized under Nebraska law. Because two children died and police allege Hunt was driving about 98 mph while intoxicated, the families’ claims could carry substantial settlement or verdict value, potentially reaching into the millions. In Nebraska, wrongful-death claims are generally brought by the personal representative of the child’s estate on behalf of surviving beneficiaries. The civil suits do not require the criminal case to be finished before they are filed, though any conviction or admissions in the DUI-homicide case would likely strengthen the families’ claims on liability. Nebraska does not allow punitive damages, but that does not prevent large compensatory awards in fatal crash cases. The families would generally have two years from each child’s death to file.

3 articles · Updated · KETV Omaha · Jul 16

A 5-year-old boy died Wednesday from injuries suffered in last Thursday’s Omaha crash, becoming the second child killed after a 10-year-old boy also died.
Police said Tanner Hunt was driving about 98 mph and had a blood alcohol level of .095 when his eastbound Chevrolet Malibu struck a turning Subaru Impreza near 114th Street and West Center Road.
The impact ripped the Subaru in half, and Hunt has been charged with motor vehicle homicide while driving under the influence and DUI causing serious injury.
Hunt made his first court appearance earlier this week, and his preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 17.