Saunders County officials say one person is dead after accident with cow, tree

VALPARAISO, Neb. -- Officials in Saunders County said one person is dead after hitting a cow, then a tree early Friday morning. 

The Saunders County Sheriff's Office said that around 5:14 a.m., they were called to a single-vehicle accident on Highway 79 County Road E and County Road F, about three miles from Valparaiso. 

Authorities said that a passerby was the one who made the 9-1-1 call. 

According to the Sheriff's Office, an investigation of the accident allowed them to determine that sometime before 5:14 a.m., a Buick Rendezvous had been traveling north on Highway 79, when it struck a cow in the roadway. 

Officials said that after hitting the cow, the Buick left the roadway and hit a tree. 

The driver, who was alone in the vehicle, was declared dead at the scene. 

The person's next of kin have not been notified as the investigation is ongoing. 

The Sheriff's Office said that there are no witnesses to the accident at this time.