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Nebraska to Pay $2M for Fatal Prison Van Crash

Jeremy Dobbe (NE Dept. of Corrections Photo)
Jeremy Dobbe (NE Dept. of Corrections Photo)

(AP) — Nebraska officials have agreed to pay $2 million to the family of a Lincoln woman who was struck and killed by a state prison van driven by an inmate.

The settlement will go to the husband and son of 47-year-old Joyce Meeks, who was killed in the crash on June 25 in Lincoln. Lawmakers gave initial approval to the payment on Tuesday as part of the state’s annual claims bill.

The inmate driver, Jeremy Dobbe, was seen speeding and swerving erratically before he struck Meeks’ vehicle. Dobbe was driving to transport inmates as part of a state work-release program.

The lawsuit by Meeks’ husband, Leonard Meeks, and son, Martell Buchanan, alleges that Dobbe was under the influence of alcohol, drugs or some other intoxicating substance.

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