Burdette Bauerle Killed in Truck Accident in Imperial, NE

Imperial, NE — January 26, 2026, Burdette Bauerle was killed in a truck accident at about 4:15 p.m. in the 1100 block of State Highway 61.

Authorities said a southbound semi-truck hauling a cattle trailer collided with a Ford F-150 that was turning left onto 12th Street.

Ford driver Burdette Bauerle, 94, died from injuries suffered in the crash, according to authorities.

The truck driver declined medical treatment, authorities said, but three cattle in the truck’s trailer died in the crash.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Chase County crash at this time.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people read that a pickup truck was turning left and got hit by a semi, the assumption is often that the pickup driver simply misjudged the gap or failed to yield. But that assumption doesn’t hold up without understanding how the crash actually happened. The key question is: How exactly did the collision unfold?

From the limited information available, we know there was a southbound cattle-hauling semi and a Ford F-150 turning left onto 12th Street. But was the pickup already in the turn when the semi approached, or did it cut across too late? Was the semi speeding? Was there any obstruction to visibility, like the setting sun or another vehicle? Was either driver distracted?

Those details make all the difference in determining fault. And until they’re clarified, there’s no way to know whether this was a case of driver error, a preventable failure to yield, or something more complicated.

In crashes like this, black box data from the truck is essential. It can show speed, braking, throttle input and even GPS location in the moments leading up to impact. Dash cam footage, if available, could show how far into the turn the Ford had gone, or whether the semi driver had time to react. And while it may not seem relevant, cell phone records from both drivers could confirm or rule out distractions.

Another important aspect is timing and visibility. A crash at 4:15 p.m. in January means the sun could have been low in the sky, possibly affecting what the drivers could see. If visibility played a role, that could shift the legal conversation away from right-of-way and toward whether the trucker was driving appropriately for conditions.

One final point: any time livestock is killed in a crash, that raises questions about how the animals were being transported. A well-secured trailer is designed to protect cargo during a wreck. So if three cattle died, investigators may want to look at how the trailer was built and loaded, though that’s separate from determining how the crash occurred.

Key Takeaways:

• It’s unclear who had the right-of-way or whether visibility or speed played a role in the collision.
• Black box data and dash cam footage from the semi could clarify how the crash unfolded.
• Distraction, driver timing and weather or lighting conditions may all be factors.
• Fatal crashes involving left turns require close analysis of both vehicle positions and driver decisions.
• The loss of livestock may prompt a secondary review of the truck’s cargo handling and trailer setup.