What happened
A 25-year-old Nebraska City man was killed early Sunday morning, November 1, in a rollover near South Third Street and Fourth Corso in Nebraska City. Police say the suspected driver of the vehicle left the scene. Emergency crews were called to the area at 3:03 a.m., according to 10/11 NOW.
According to the Nebraska City Police Department, Brian Blevins, 25, of Nebraska City, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said the suspected driver of the vehicle left the scene of the crash. Later on Sunday they said that 22-year-old Dreden Osborn of Nebraska City was wanted in connection with the investigation. (KMA) Nebraska City Crime Stoppers offered a $2,500 reward for information leading to his arrest. KMA reported that the Otoe County Sheriff's Department, the Nebraska State Patrol, Otoe County EMA drone units, Nebraska City Fire/EMS, the Otoe County Prosecutor's Office and the U.S. Marshals' fugitive task force all assisted Nebraska City police.
On Monday, November 2, at about 2 p.m., the U.S. Marshals Metro Fugitive Task Force and the Southern Iowa Fugitive Task Force took Osborn into custody in Underwood, Iowa, on a felony warrant. According to 10/11 NOW and WOWT, "The warrant was for failure to stop after a crash that caused injury or death." Police said Osborn was taken into custody without incident and will be returned to Nebraska. They added that the crash "is still under investigation and other charges may be determined at a later time." (KMA)
Police have not released what kind of vehicle rolled, how many people were in it, which way it was traveling, or what caused it to roll. Osborn has not been convicted of anything. The allegations against him are only allegations, and he is presumed innocent.
Our condolences
To Brian's family, his friends, and everyone in Nebraska City who knew him: I am so sorry. Twenty-five is far too young. A phone call before dawn on a Sunday is the kind no family is ready for. Learning that the person police suspect was driving left him there makes that grief even harder, and it can leave a family with questions that only the investigation can answer. We are holding you in our thoughts. We are also thinking of the Nebraska City firefighters and EMS crews who answered that call in the dark, and of the officers and task-force members who worked through the next day and a half.
Safety context
Rollovers are among the deadliest crashes on the road. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, rollover crashes accounted for 28 percent of passenger-vehicle occupant deaths in 2023. In Nebraska, the Department of Transportation's daily count showed 174 traffic deaths so far in 2026 as of the morning of November 2, compared with 186 at the same point last year. That is fewer deaths, but each one is a family like Brian's.
A few things that matter, especially late at night:
- Buckle up, every ride, every seat. Passengers in the back seat and on short trips across town need it as much as anyone.
- Slow down on in-town streets. Corners, hills and parked cars can turn a moment's misjudgment into a rollover.
- If you're riding with someone, it's okay to speak up, or to find another way home, if something doesn't feel right.
- If you're ever in a crash, stay. Nebraska law requires every driver involved in a crash that injures or kills someone to stop, identify themselves and give the injured person reasonable assistance. A call to 911 can be the difference between life and death.
The rights of families after a crash like this
In general terms, when someone dies in a crash caused by another person's negligence, Nebraska law allows a claim for that death. Under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-809, the person who would have been liable had the victim survived is liable for the death. Under § 30-810, the claim is brought by the personal representative of the person's estate for the benefit of the surviving spouse and next of kin, and it must be filed within two years of the death.
As to this crash specifically, and only as possibilities based on the reporting:
- If Brian was riding in the vehicle, as the police account of a separate suspected driver indicates, his family may have a claim against the driver if careless driving caused the rollover. That claim would usually be paid through the driver's auto liability insurance. Police have not released a cause, and nothing in the reporting establishes how the crash happened.
- The vehicle's owner. If someone other than the driver owned the vehicle, that owner's insurance policy may also apply. Depending on what the facts show, there may be a separate claim if the owner let someone drive who shouldn't have been driving.
- The family's own policies. Every Nebraska auto policy must include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. If the driver had no insurance or not enough, a policy Brian had, or one covering his household, may help, depending on its terms.
- Leaving the scene. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-697 requires any driver in a crash that injures or kills someone to stop, identify themselves and give reasonable assistance. Under § 60-698, failing to stop when the crash results in a death is a Class III felony. That is a criminal matter for the prosecutor to prove. The warrant here alleges this offense, and nothing has been proved. A family's civil claim is separate and does not depend on how the criminal case turns out.
- Comparative fault. Under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-21,185.09, a person's recovery is reduced by any share of fault assigned to them. It is barred only if their share is equal to or greater than the combined fault of the people the claim is against. Insurers sometimes argue that a passenger shares blame. Those arguments depend entirely on the facts.
Learn more about your rights: you may want to read about how a wrongful death claim works for a family who has lost someone, about passengers' rights after a serious crash, and about injury and wrongful death law across Nebraska.
How I help families in crisis
When a young man dies like this, his family is suddenly dealing with grief, a funeral, a criminal case they didn't ask to be part of, and insurance companies, all at the same time. My job is to help families through that kind of crisis. I take the stress from their shoulders, take up the shield to protect and advocate for the rights of the person they lost and the family left behind, and guide them through the difficult months ahead.
In a case like this, that means following the criminal case closely without letting it hold up the family's own claim. It means getting the police report and crash reconstruction as soon as they're available, identifying the vehicle's owner and every insurance policy that may apply, including the family's own, and making sure the estate is opened properly so the claim can be brought on time.
Over my career I have recovered more than $24 million for injured people and their families, earned countless five-star client reviews and the respect of fellow attorneys, and been recognized as Best of Omaha for personal injury in 2025 and 2026.
If you are part of Brian's family, or you have questions about a crash like this one, I'm here to listen whenever you're ready. Talking with me is free and carries no obligation, and if we work together, you won't owe a fee unless I win.
Frequently asked questions
- What happened in the rollover at South Third Street and Fourth Corso in Nebraska City?
- Early Sunday, November 1, 2026, emergency crews were called at 3:03 a.m. to a rollover near South Third Street and Fourth Corso in Nebraska City. A 25-year-old Nebraska City man was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say the suspected driver left the scene; a 22-year-old man was arrested in Underwood, Iowa, the next day.
- What are the rights of families after a crash like this?
- Nebraska allows a wrongful death claim, brought by the personal representative within two years, for the spouse and next of kin. If the person killed was riding in the vehicle, the family may have claims against the driver's insurance, possibly the owner's, and their own uninsured or underinsured coverage.
- How does Frank Younes help families after something like this?
- Frank takes the legal burden off the family: following the criminal case, getting the police report and reconstruction, identifying the vehicle's owner and every insurance policy, and making sure the estate is opened so the claim is brought on time. The first conversation is free, and there is no fee unless he wins.
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Frank Younes
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