By Associated Press - Friday, May 29, 2020

FRIEND, Neb. (AP) - A 11-year-old child and his caretaker have been hit and killed by a truck as they walked along a road in southeastern Nebraska, the Nebraska State Patrol said.

The patrol said the crash happened just before 9 p.m. Thursday in Friend, killing Isaac Speece, of Friend, and his 53-year-old caretaker, Crystal Gerdes, of Milford.

Investigators said the boy, who used a wheelchair, was being accompanied by Gerdes and both were on the southbound lane of the street when a northbound pickup crossed into the southbound lanes and hit them.

Isaac was rushed to a local hospital, where he died, the patrol said.. Gerdes was pronounced deceased at the scene. The 76-year-old driver of the truck was not hurt. The patrol did not say whether charges in the deaths were expected.

Friend is about 30 miles southwest of Lincoln.

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