Omaha Police Identify 2 Strassenburg Boys Killed in 98 mph Suspected DUI Crash

Q: The driver faces homicide charges, but what separate multi-million dollar civil battle now awaits him from the victims' families?

He now likely faces separate wrongful-death civil lawsuits from the families of the two boys killed in the crash. Those cases would be independent of the criminal prosecution and would seek money damages for losses tied to the deaths, including medical and funeral expenses, loss of companionship and parental guidance, and other economic and emotional harms recognized under Nebraska law. Because two children died and police allege Hunt was driving about 98 mph while intoxicated, the families’ claims could carry substantial settlement or verdict value, potentially reaching into the millions. In Nebraska, wrongful-death claims are generally brought by the personal representative of the child’s estate on behalf of surviving beneficiaries. The civil suits do not require the criminal case to be finished before they are filed, though any conviction or admissions in the DUI-homicide case would likely strengthen the families’ claims on liability. Nebraska does not allow punitive damages, but that does not prevent large compensatory awards in fatal crash cases. The families would generally have two years from each child’s death to file.

3 articles · Updated · KETV Omaha · Jul 16

Prestin Strassenburg, 10, and Zaiden Strassenburg, 5, were identified by Omaha police as the two children killed in last Thursday’s crash near 114th Street and West Center Road.
Police said a Chevrolet Malibu driven by Tanner Hunt hit a turning Subaru Impreza, and the impact ripped the Subaru in half.
Prosecutors said Hunt was traveling about 98 mph one second before impact and had a blood alcohol level of 0.095; he faces multiple charges and has already made his first court appearance.
The identification follows confirmation earlier that Zaiden, 5, had become the second child to die from the suspected DUI crash.