A Nebraska State Patrol trooper was killed Monday in the line of duty, while responding to a wreck along Interstate 80 between Ashland and Greenwood, the Patrol announced.

Law enforcement experts have long warned that little is more dangerous for officers than when they pull someone over or respond to a roadside crash. Distracted drivers and bad road conditions can make responding to a crash or pulling someone over more dangerous, they have said.

Monday, slick roads and winter weather conditions likely contributed to the 9:30 a.m. crash.

The Patrol identified him as Trooper Kyle McAcy and said he was struck by a snowplow while outside of his vehicle. Nobody else was injured in the wreck.

Troopers rushed to help, the Patrol said in a statement, but he died from his injuries at the scene. He was a 10-year veteran of the Patrol, having served in the Patrol Division, Carrier Enforcement and as a Crisis Negotiator.

He was stationed in Omaha.

Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol, said the Patrol family was “devastated.”

“Kyle was a dedicated trooper, a devoted public servant, and most importantly a good friend to many in Omaha and beyond,” Bolduc said in a statement. “His loss is being felt by countless people. Please keep his family, friends, colleagues and community in your hearts as they deal with this unimaginable loss.”

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen issued a statement of condolences to McAcy’s family and friends.

“His loss is a reminder of the call to service bravely demonstrated by our law enforcement personnel every day,” Pillen said. “We know Trooper McAcy’s death will be felt deeply by his NSP family.”

As is custom when the Patrol is involved in a crash, the Patrol asked local law enforcement to conduct the crash investigation. In this case that means the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office.

Law enforcement thoughts and prayers poured in from around the country at word of the loss, including from local law enforcement in Lincoln and Omaha.

The last Patrol trooper killed in the line of duty was Jerry Smith, 51, of Scottsbluff. The Army veteran was killed on June 20, 2019, in a crash near Bridgeport in western Nebraska. He had been driving when a wreck cascaded into his lane of traffic.

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