A man from Seward passed away on Monday, just days after experiencing a medical episode while driving, which caused him to crash into the side of a preschool.
The incident occurred on Friday at around 2 p.m. Stanley Roebke, 76, was driving his Ford F-150 pickup truck north on North Columbia Avenue near Hillcrest Drive in Seward when he suddenly lost consciousness. As a result, his truck veered off the road, hitting a fire hydrant and a light pole. After that, the truck moved in the opposite direction, striking another fire hydrant and then colliding with a Toyota Corolla that was stopped at a stop sign, according to the crash report.
The truck continued traveling north and crashed into the side of St. John’s Development Center, a preschool building.
Two people inside the building, a 37-year-old woman and a 1-year-old child, were hurt in the crash but only suffered minor injuries. They were taken to the hospital but were released the same day.
Roebke was traveling with a passenger, who also had minor injuries, as did the driver of the Toyota Corolla. Roebke was rushed to Memorial Hospital in Seward with serious injuries but passed away on Monday.
The police reported that they do not believe drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash, but they did not specify what type of medical episode caused Roebke to lose control of the vehicle. They also did not say whether Roebke or anyone else involved in the crash was wearing a seatbelt.
This incident highlights the importance of being cautious while driving, especially if there is a sudden medical issue. It also shows how accidents can impact both drivers and people who may be near the scene, such as those inside the preschool.
