Monday Merrick County Fatality On Highway 92

On Monday, March 17, 2025, at approximately 06:38 a.m., the Merrick County Sheriff's Office was detailed to a two-vehicle injury accident at Highway 92 and 2nd road in rural Merrick County. A preliminary investigation revealed that two vehicles were traveling southbound together on 2nd road. The first vehicle, a 2021 Toyota 4Runner failed to stop at the stop sign of the intersection of 2nd Road and Highway 92. 

The second vehicle, a 2007 GMC Envoy, operated by Jesse Bonds, 30 years old, of Elizabeth, Colorado, also failed to stop at the stop sign before colliding with an eastbound, 2015 Peterbilt tractor truck with an empty cargo trailer, traveling on Highway 92 operated by Jonathan Koehn of Greeley County, Nebraska. The driver and sole occupant of the 2007 GMC Envoy, Jesse Bonds, was pronounced deceased at the scene. There were no other reports of injuries. Koehn was assessed at the scene and released. 

Neither alcohol nor drugs are a contributing factor in this accident. Mr. Bonds was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. Assistance at the scene was provided by the Howard County Sheriff’s Office, Nebraska State Patrol, Palmer Fire and Rescue, Lone Tree Towing, and Kearney Towing.