UPDATE Friday July 5, 9:22 a.m.: The Omaha World-Herald reports that the lone survivor, Roan Brandon, has been released from the hospital.
A spokesperson for St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center in Lincoln has confirmed to 3 News Now she is no longer a patient there.
The Sarpy County Sheriff's Office also tells 3 News Now that the investigation into what caused the fatal crash is still ongoing.
Original story:
A crash that left four Gretna teens dead and one severely injured has devastated the community. During the aftermath, authorities kept a tight lip during their investigation into what happened but today they held a press conference, providing more information about the crash.
Sarpy County Sheriff Jeff Davis, Gretna Public Schools Superintendent Kevin Riley and Chief Deputy County Attorney Bonnie Moore were on hand to provide the public more information.
Sarpy County Sheriff Jeff Davis opened, saying they finished identifying the victims last night. Roan Brandon, the sole survivor, suffered serious injuries but is expected to recover. He said the investigation is ongoing and that they will continue to look for the cause for the families and to make sure nothing similar happens again. Davis asked people to not gather at the accident area near 180th and Platteview Road as they say it is unsafe with heavy equipment passing often. He says they believe that speed was a factor.
Superintendent Kevin Riley started by thanking the community for support and by adhering to their requests. He also thanked religious leaders and staff for helping parents and students as well as the outpouring of support from others not in the area. He said the victims were good girls whose parents monitored them, but that accidents happen.
Riley believes the community can and will heal in time.
Chief Deputy County Attorney Bonnie Moore again extended the county's sympathies for the families before Sheriff Davis spoke again.
Sheriff Davis says the incident heavily impacted first responders and other personnel at the scene.
The driver of the vehicle was revealed to be 16-year-old Abigail Barth, who was pronounced deceased at the scene. They do not know where they were going and say sole survivor Roan Brandon was one of the girls “thrown from the vehicle presumably.”
When asked, Davis said that the response time was about ten minutes to what was called in as a brush fire. When first responders arrived on the scene, they discovered that it was actually an accident.
Officials have released this photo of the teens who were involved in the accident:
They've also provided individual images of the victims and the loan survivor with the following information:
See also: People go green in show of support for community of Gretna
See also: Gretna community gathers to mourn teens killed in crash
See also: Four Teens Killed in Gretna Near 180th and Platteview Road
See also: Sarpy County Deputies to meet after psychological impact of Gretna crash
