Omaha police said Friday that a motorist told them her sport utility vehicle's brakes failed in the moments before she drove down a ramp leading from Interstate 480 and slammed into a car whose driver died.
Kathryn L. Hardiman, 50, of Omaha was pronounced dead at the scene at 28th and Martha Streets, police said.
A passenger in Hardiman's Honda Accord, Jason M. Newman, 30, of Omaha, suffered broken ribs and other internal injuries, police said. Police said his injuries were not life-threatening. He was taken to the Nebraska Medical Center.
The crash happened as a Chevrolet Suburban driven by Raysheena T. Samuel, 25, of Omaha left I-480 northbound at Martha Street about 5 p.m., police said.
Samuel told officers that the brakes failed as she drove down an exit ramp, police said. The Suburban continued through the intersection at 28th Street and struck Hardiman's westbound Accord.
Neither Samuel nor a passenger was injured, police said.
The I-480 northbound off-ramp was closed until about 10 p.m. — Emerson Clarridge
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