Nebraska troopers arrest trucker after pursuit, standoff

BEATRICE - One person is in custody following a hit-and-run with a Nebraska State Trooper, a pursuit, and an hour-long standoff on Interstate 80.

The incident started at about 5:10 p.m., after NSP had received information regarding a semi pulling a flatbed trailer, driving recklessly on Interstate 80 near Lincoln. A trooper observed the semi and attempted a traffic stop.

After the driver pulled over to the shoulder, the truck accelerated in reverse, hitting the trooper’s patrol unit and disabling it..and injuring the trooper. The vehicle then fled westbound on Interstate 80.

A Seward County Sheriff’s Deputy located the semi and also attempted a traffic stop. The semi driver refused to stop and a pursuit was initiated.

Troopers took over the chase as the semi entered York County. As it passed the Grand Island interchanges, stop sticks were deployed to slow the vehicle. The semi lost several tires but continued driving westbound on Interstate 80. During the pursuit, the semi driver attempted to strike multiple patrol vehicles.

Troopers finally brought the semi to a stop at around 7:45 p.m. The driver refused to exit the vehicle or respond to repeated commands from troopers. After an hour of trying to get the driver to exit voluntarily, an NSP K9 was deployed into the cab of the semi. The driver then exited immediately and was taken into custody.

56-year-old Kasey Martinson, of Sanborn, North Dakota was arrested, and charges are pending. The injured trooper was transported to Bryan Health Center West Campus by another trooper, treated for minor injuries and released.