Lincoln man arrested for crash that killed on-duty officer in April – KCSR / KBPY

Nebraska State Patrol troopers have arrested a Lincoln man in connection with the crash that killed Ceresco Police Officer Ross Bartlett earlier this year. Tony Pierce, 50, was arrested for negligent motor vehicle homicide.

The accident occurred on Friday evening, April 12th. Officer Ross Bartlett’s patrol vehicle was struck while conducting a traffic stop on Highway 77 in northern Lancaster County, about a mile south of Ceresco. The Nebraska State Patrol conducted a full accident reconstruction.

During the traffic stop, both Bartlett’s patrol car and a Nissan Altima were parked on the shoulder of Highway 77. Both drivers were seated in their vehicles when a southbound Ford F-150 struck Bartlett’s patrol car from behind, causing it to hit the Nissan.

Officer Bartlett died that evening as a result of the accident. The driver of the Nissan, Ke’vion Hill, 27, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was treated at Bryan Health West Campus. The driver of the Ford, Tony Pierce, 50, was not seriously injured.

As a result of the accident investigation, the police suspect that the use of cell phones was a cause of the accident. In cooperation with the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office, Tony Pierce turned himself in to police officers this morning and was charged with motor vehicle manslaughter.

Officers also completed the investigation that Officer Bartlett had begun with the traffic stop. Ke’vion Hill was charged with driving while suspended, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana – less than an ounce. He was arrested and booked into the Douglas County Jail on an unrelated warrant.

Officer Ross Bartlett had been with Ceresco PD since 2017. He was also an investigator with the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services and served as a volunteer firefighter for Ceresco. Prior to these assignments, he served with the Boone County Sheriff’s Office, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, the Madison Police Department and the Newman Grove Police Department.