A U-Haul truck backed into a group of five Omahans twice shortly after midnight Sunday following a talent competition at Oak View Mall.
The driver of the truck, a 22-year-old Jacksonville, Fla., man, was booked into the Douglas County Correctional Center for reckless driving. He was released later Sunday morning.
Three of the victims were taken to Creighton University Medical Center, including 17-year-old Dawn Fournier, who was transported in critical condition with compound leg fractures. Also transported to the hospital were Raymond Fournier, 24, and Thuythut Than, 15.
The mother of the Fourniers said Raymond underwent surgery Sunday morning for a leg fracture and Dawn had surgery later in the day. A hospital spokesman said Than was treated and released.
Jutta Fournier said it appears that her children were the victims of “a freak accident” following the American Mall Model Search competition Saturday night at the mall. She said her daughter is an intern with the competition and her son had gone to the mall to give his sister a ride home.
“The show ran later than expected, and Raymond was giving them a hand loading the truck,” Jutta Fournier said. “It was really just a freak accident, according to the other people there.”
Two others were hurt but declined transportation to the hospital, according to Sgt. Joseph Collins, a spokesman for the Omaha Police Department.
Collins said the truck was being loaded outside the Dillard's store with equipment from a talent search competition. The driver was revving the truck's engine when the truck went into gear and backed into the victims.
The truck pulled forward before backing into the group a second time. The driver went for help before returning to the scene.
Contact the writer: 402-444-1272, kevin.cole@owh.com
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