The Nemaha County Sheriff’s Office and Nebraska State Patrol are continuing to investigate the death of 69-year-old Barbara Bolen, rural Auburn, following a vehicle/pedestrian crash.
Shortly before 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 27, the Nemaha County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 telephone call reporting the fatality. Ms. Bolen was found on U.S. Highway 136 near her residence, approximately 2 miles east of Auburn. She was apparently struck while going to her mailbox. The vehicle that struck Bolen was not at the scene when officers arrived and investigation into identification of the vehicle and its driver is on-going.
Investigation into the Feb. 27 hit and run death of Barbara Bolen east of Auburn on Highway 136 has yielded some more specific information regarding the vehicle that is being sought, according to Sheriff Brent Lottman. The vehicle involved is a silver or light gray colored Kenworth truck (a model T-800 or very similar model). The truck would have damage to the right (passenger-side) front around the fender and headlight.
The Sheriff’s Office is asking for anyone who has seen a truck matching this description with the described damage or a truck matching this description that was absent from its normal place and is either still absent, or has returned with repairs to the right front to please provide that information to either the Nemaha County Sheriff’s Office or Nebraska State Patrol at the telephone numbers listed below.
Lottman said several individuals have come forward with possible leads which have been investigated leading to similar trucks, but none that have turned out to be the suspect vehicle.
Anyone with information relating to this incident is asked to contact the Nemaha County Sheriff’s Office at (402) 274-3139 or Nebraska State Patrol at (402) 471-4545.
Bolen is survived by sons Scott Reed of Anamosa, Iowa; Jerry Bolen and wife Bev, and Clayton Bolen and wife Kristy, both of Ft. Calhoun; daughters Teresa Bolen of Missouri and Natalie Jurek and husband Roger of Blair; 11 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; brothers Bob Betts and friend Becky of Omaha, Lyle Betts of New Market, Iowa; and sister Wanda Reed and husband Jim of Brock.
Memorial services were held March 5 at the Brock Christian Church.