Minneapolis family dies in crash involving semi in Nebraska

OGALLALA, Neb. (KMSP) - Five members of a Minneapolis family died in multiple vehicle crash, involving a semi truck, on westbound I-80 near Brule, Nebraska, according to Nebraska State Patrol.

Officials say 29-year-old Jamison Pals, 29-year-old Kathryne Pals and their three children, three-year-old Ezra, 23-month-old Violet, and two-month-old Calvin all died in the crash.

The crash happened Sunday just before 11:30 a.m. in a construction zone about four miles west of Brule.

According to preliminary investigation, a westbound semi truck rear-ended the Pals' minivan. That collision caused the semi and the Pals' minivan to hit another minivan, an SUV, and a van that were also going westbound. The semi truck and the Pals' minivan both caught fire.

The driver of the semi, 53-year-old Tony Weekly of Baker, Florida, received treatment at Sedgewick County Hospital in Julesburg, Colorado and was then booked at Keith County Corrections. Weekly has been charged with five counts of felony motor vehicle homicide.

Six other people in the three other vehicles received treatment for injuries at Ogallala Community Hospital.

The crash closed about 10 miles of I-80 eastbound and westbound for about six hours.

The investigation is ongoing.