A 49-year-old Schuyler man is dead after a hit-and-run crash just after midnight Sunday, and investigators say community tips helped them track down the Columbus driver accused of leaving him on the roadside. The victim has been identified as Abreham Michael Beyene, and the man now facing felony charges is 62-year-old Daniel Reynoso, whose damaged pickup was seized from his home within days of the crash.
According to 1011now.com, the crash was reported just after midnight Sunday near the 1000 block of Road E. Officers arrived to find Beyene dead, and KETV reports he was found along the north side of the road around 12:03 a.m. Investigators quickly began searching for a vehicle that had fled the scene.
Search for a Damaged Pickup
Police asked the public to help find a white or light-colored Ford F-150 believed involved in the crash, according to WOWT. KETV reported that investigators were looking for a truck with damage to its passenger-side front end and mirror, and that the vehicle was last seen heading west on Road E toward Road 10.
The tip led to Daniel Reynoso, a 62-year-old Columbus resident, after community members contacted investigators. The station's report notes that Columbus police assisted officers in the investigation, and that Reynoso's truck matched the description of the vehicle being sought.
Truck Seized, Suspect Taken Into Custody
Officers found a damaged pickup near Reynoso's home that aligned with evidence left at the scene, per the same account. Reynoso was taken into custody Monday afternoon in Lindsay, with assistance from the Platte County Sheriff's Office. His 2005 white Ford F-150 was later seized from his Columbus residence.
Police say Reynoso told investigators he was involved in an accident and admitted to fleeing the scene. He is now being held in the Platte County Jail on felony charges of leaving the scene of a crash involving death and tampering with evidence, the article notes.
What Nebraska Law Requires
Under the state statute governing crashes involving injury or death, a driver is required to immediately stop at the scene and ascertain the identity of everyone involved, according to the Nebraska Legislature. Separately, the state's tampering statute specifies that mere abandonment of physical evidence in the presence of law enforcement does not, by itself, constitute tampering with physical evidence, per the Nebraska Legislature's published language on that statute.
The investigation drew in multiple agencies beyond Schuyler police. KETV reported that the Nebraska State Patrol, Colfax County Sheriff's Office and Colfax County Attorney's Office assisted, while 1011now.com noted the Platte County Sheriff's Office helped bring Reynoso into custody in Lindsay.
A Broader Pattern on Nebraska Roads
Motor vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of death nationally, with more than 30,000 people killed each year, according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, which also notes that traffic-related deaths in Nebraska have declined since the 1970s. The Nebraska Department of Transportation maintains fatality history and monthly breakdowns dating back to 1936, though no statewide or county-specific totals tied to this case were available.
For now, the case against Reynoso centers on the felony counts tied to leaving the scene and tampering with evidence, with Beyene's death at the heart of the investigation. No additional details about court proceedings have been released.
