Teen Killed in Christmas Morning Crash

Grand Island, Neb. — The Grand Island Police Department is investigating a two-vehicle crash which left one 19-year-old male deceased.

At 2:58 a.m. Christmas/Wednesday morning, the Grand Island Fire Department, EMS and police were dispatched to the intersection of South Blaine Street and West Lamar Avenue. A preliminary investigation shows a silver Dodge Charger driven by 19-year-old Thomas Villa-Estrada was driving northbound on South Blaine Street at a high rate of speed. A silver Nissan Altima driven by 67-year-old Pedro Chavez Rodriguez was also turning southbound onto Blaine Street from Lamar Ave.

The Nissan and the Charger collided in the intersection, with the speed of the Dodge Charger causing the vehicle to travel more than 250 feet north and into the front yard of a home at 811 S. Blaine where the vehicle struck a tree. Villa-Estrada was declared deceased at the scene upon arrival.

The silver Nissan Altima driven by Rodriguez had left the scene prior to officers’ arrival.  An ensuing investigation found the vehicle parked near an apartment in the 1500 block of West Koenig Street. Officers made contact with Rodrigues, and subsequently arrested him on charges of no operator’s license and leaving the scene of a fatal motor vehicle collision.

Next of kin has been notified. South Blaine St. remained closed until from 3:00 a.m. - 8:20 a.m. Wednesday.  The investigation is ongoing with members of the GIPD Accident Reconstruction Team. Officers were assisted by GIFD and the Hall County Attorney’s Office.