Vehicular Homicide Case Delayed by “Curveball”

A motor vehicle homicide that has been pending since 2021 has been delayed again after an unexpected ‘curveball’ from an insurance company, according to the defendant's attorney.Raquel A. Bredemeier, 30, of Lincoln, appeared in Jefferson County District Court on Thursday, December 1, 2022. David J.A. Bargen was the presiding judge.The defendant is charged with unintentional motor vehicle homicide, a class 2A felony which carries a possible penalty of 20 years in prison. Bredemeier is also charged with DUI (driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs), a class W misdemeanor punishable by 60 days in jail, a $500 fine and a six-month driver's license revocation.The charges stem from a three-vehicle accident on Highway 136 last year that left a Deshler man dead and two others injured.The state is represented by County Attorney Joseph Casson.The defendant’s attorney, Carlos Monzon of Lincoln, appeared via webcam. He told the court that he had recently received information from an insurance company representing the defendant, “When I received them, and I think it's a curveball in this case, and I want to have the opportunity to discuss what is happening on that case with those authorities and with Mr. Casson to see if we can come to a resolution.”The details of this information were not provided in court and there is no further information in the court file as of press time.Monzon requested a continuance. There have been several prior continuances granted by the court, most recently to allow the defense time to find a toxicology expert that could interpret the results of a toxicology report.Monzon said, “So, my guess is the state might not be ready. Is that correct?”Casson responded, “Well, I've not yet received any, any reciprocal discovery from him. So that would be a true statement.”District court only convenes twice a month in Jefferson County. Monzon asked to continue the case until February 2, 2023. Casson countered, “I think we can continue to January.”However, Monzon said he was unavailable in January due to pending trials. Judge Bargen asked if February was acceptable. Casson said, “I guess that's what it has to be.”The AccidentTuesday night, January 20, 2021, shortly before 8 p.m., Jefferson County emergency crews were dispatched to the scene of a three-vehicle accident at the intersection of Highway 136 and 571st Avenue. A dispatcher informed responders that there were injuries and one of the vehicles was on fire. Shortly after, the dispatcher said the vehicle was ‘completely engulfed.’According to the Sheriff's Office, an investigation of the scene determined two vehicles traveling westbound on Highway 136, one following the other. A third vehicle, driven by Bredemeier, traveling eastbound, crossed the center line and struck both vehicles.One of the westbound drivers was identified as Samuel Lindley and pronounced deceased at the scene. Bredemeier and the other driver, Hailey Gehle of Deshler, were transported from the scene by ambulance.The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Jefferson County Ambulance District 33 and Jefferson County Fire and Rescue were all summoned to the scene. Plymouth Fire and Rescue, Diller Fire and Rescue were also called out to the scene as mutual aid. Highway 136 was closed for several hours as the scene was cleared and investigated.The Nebraska State Patrol was called to the scene to conduct an accident reconstruction.

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