Seward girl, 10, killed after horse trailer breaks loose

By CORY MATTESON / Lincoln Journal Star JournalStar.com | Posted: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 4:00 pm | (20) Comments

A fifth-grader at Seward Middle School died Monday afternoon after a horse trailer came loose from a pickup and hit the car she was riding in. Her 9-year-old brother was critically injured.

Kasey Cox, 10, was pronounced dead after she was taken by helicopter to BryanLGH Medical Center West from the crash site northwest of the Lincoln Airport.

Korbin Cox, a fourth-grader, was taken to the hospital and listed in critical condition Monday.

Their father, Keith Cox, who was driving the car, is a staff sergeant with Detachment 2 of 165th Quartermaster Company in Seward, where the family resides.

"Obviously it's a tragedy, and we always support soldiers that have tragedies in their life," Nebraska Army National Guard spokesman David Nore said Tuesday.

Investigators still are piecing together what caused the trailer being towed by Danna Seevers, 43, also of Seward, to come loose Monday afternoon.

The trailer crossed U.S. 34 and collided with the eastbound Chevrolet Cobalt being driven by Cox, 39.

Nebraska State Patrol spokeswoman Deb Collins said Tuesday that a preliminary interview with Seevers indicated that safety chains were in place on the trailer. Collins said the investigation into the crash, which took place at 3:50 p.m. a mile west of the junction of U.S. 34 and Nebraska 79, is ongoing.

The impact of the nearly head-on collision sent the Cobalt into a ditch, where it rolled.

A wounded horse in the trailer was euthanized.

No members of the Cox family were wearing seat belts, Collins said.

Keith Cox was hospitalized Monday with non-life-threatening injuries. An update on his son's condition was not available Tuesday.

The family, through a BryanLGH spokeswoman, issued a brief statement Tuesday.

"The Keith Cox family requests their privacy be respected during this extremely difficult time," it read.

Seevers, who was driving the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado towing the trailer westbound on U.S. 34, could not be reached Tuesday.

Seward Public Schools Superintendent Greg Barnes said students went home Tuesday with notes to their parents notifying them of the crash. A message titled "Crisis Information for Parents" was also added to the Seward Public Schools website.

Barnes said he learned of the crash Tuesday morning, just as classes began.

"It's been a long day in middle school for Kasey's class," he said Tuesday afternoon.

Grief counseling was provided for teachers and students at both Seward Middle School and Seward Elementary School, which Korbin attends.

"We'll provide support throughout," Barnes said. "As much as needed."

Reach Cory Matteson at 402-473-7438 or cmatteson@journalstar.com.