Teen Dies, Brother Injured in Car Crash

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Teen Dies, Brother Injured in Car Crash

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Omaha, Neb.
Posted: 2:54 PM Aug 27, 2008
Last Updated: 8:48 AM Aug 28, 2008
Reporter: Associated Press
Email Address: desk@kolnkgin.com

18 comments

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A 17-year-old boy is dead and his younger brother injured following the collision of their car and a truck hauling rock in Sarpy County.

Sheriff's investigators say Joshua Wayland had just turned onto state Highway 50 Wednesday morning on his way to Platteview High School when his car was hit broadside by the truck.

Wayland was taken to an Omaha hospital, where he died. The teen's brother, 16-year-old Jacob Wayland, was a passenger in the car and was also taken to a hospital. He has undergone two surgeries at an Omaha hospital and is expected to survive.

The driver of the semitrailer was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor motor vehicle homicide. Witnesses told Sarpy County investigators that the truck ran a red light.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Kelsey Location: Omaha, Nebraska on Dec 9, 2008 at 10:13 PM
seriously everybody? everybody knows that we all miss josh with everything in us. we love him with all our heart. but the way everybody is acting [arguing] over these comments, isn't right. josh wouldn't want this. he wouldn't want to see this. he would want to see everybody being happy that he's finally met his savior Jesus Christ and that he's having fun up in Heaven. We all miss him a lot and shouldn't be acting like this. And for Jake, he's one of my heros now. We all love him too. -Kelsey.

Posted by: photo guru Location: omaha, nebraska on Sep 28, 2008 at 02:38 PM
Let's just call this what it is a terrible tragedy. Let's stop complaining about who is or isn't at fault. That’s not important now! There are people hurting. Whose lives have been thrown in2 a whirlwind & we are sitting here arguing about STUPID stuff that DOESN'T MATTER now. Josh was a great guy, who was only 17. he didn't deserve to die. But a lot of good people die, & it's not fair. But instead of being angry with God, & each other, let's just rejoice in the fact that he's in heaven, jamming out on the drums with God. He got to meet his daddy, his hero, & his reason for living. But let's not forget too, that down here, on earth, lives were shattered. Things aren't going to all of a sudden come into place. We need to come together, in prayer, & remember not only the Waylands, & those who knew Josh, but the truck driver as well. I’m sure he never saw it coming, & the guilt of it is unbearable. Through all of this, a person still kind of gets pushed to the side continued below.

Posted by: photo guru Location: omaha, nebraska on Sep 27, 2008 at 08:17 PM
Jake- One day he wakes up, and goes to school with his brother. The next time he comes to, he realizes his brother is dead. imagine how he’s feeling. I know he’s told himself “it should’ve been me.” I hope you guys realize that there are bigger things than your petty fights.

Posted by: Tha Kid Location: Omaha on Sep 10, 2008 at 11:22 PM
I think it was that one kid's fault he turned in front of a moving vehicle. i agree with all the others who say that it wasnt truck drivers fault

Posted by: Well Said SS & WOW on Sep 6, 2008 at 10:49 PM
If Joshua Wayland, the kindhearted person everyone knows, could read these comments, he would be heartbroken bcause some comments r everything he is not, hateful. I apologize if this is upsetting, but too many hearts are filled with anger; Josh is not angry and he would tell you just that. So, Why do YOU allow your hearts to fill with such anger? If possible,he would tell u he is happy to b with God, & maybe in some way he is; he would tell Mr. Perina he knows he did not want to hurt him or his brother; he knows it was an accident. Josh is with God, his lord and savior, and he is HAPPY; he would want u to be happy for him. Rejoice with Josh & the life he lived because his heart is full of LOVE. When u get angry because u miss Josh, or because you love Mr. Perina, try to remember Josh’s heart and the love he has for others. Pray for Jacob, his parents, Mr. Perina,& all the lives he touched, to find peace with this terrible event because I know he is at peace,so let him rest in it! SS

Posted by: Sherry Location: NC on Sep 6, 2008 at 01:54 PM
If Joshua Wayland, the kindhearted person everyone knows, could read these comments, he would b heartbroken because some comments r everything he is not, hateful. I apologize if this is upsetting, but too many hearts are filled with anger; Josh is not angry and he would tell you just that. So, Why do YOU allow your hearts to fill with anger? If possible, he would tell u he is happy to b with God, & maybe in some way he is; he would tell Mr. Perina he knows he did not want to hurt him or his brother; he knows it was an accident. Josh is with God, his lord and savior, and he is HAPPY; he would want u to be happy for him. Rejoice with Josh & the life he lived because his heart is full of LOVE. When u get angry because u miss Josh, or because you love Mr. Perina, try to remember Josh’s heart and the love he has for others. Pray for Jacob, his parents, everyone he touched, and Mr. Perina to find peace with this terrible event because I know he is at peace, so let him rest in it!

Posted by: who cares about the green Location: same place as before on Sep 6, 2008 at 02:08 AM
who cares about the green light. its as simple as corn. semi truck barreling towards the intersection teen fails to see teen turns teen gets hit and now its all the truck drivers fault? i beg to differ how do we know that the truck driver wasnt distracted by something, like idk, a problem with his trailer? see you dont know all the things that happened neither do i but i do know thats its a shared fault not just the truck driver but the teen that was driving too so quit sending the blame to the driver its a mutual thing

Posted by: WOW Location: Ames, IA on Aug 30, 2008 at 11:13 PM
While I believe that it is wrong to say that all truck drivers are bad drivers, I also can't stand the fact that you blame this on Josh. He had the RIGHT OF WAY. So he wasn't driving defensively, bad mistake on his part, but that is not the law, it is just a common practice...no tickets are issued for not driving defensively last I checked. And, this accident WAS NOT CAUSED BY A CAR!!! How can you say that when the car had the green light? This could have been avoided possibly by both parties but that isn't the way it works because the world isn't perfect. The only reason to blame the truck driver is because plain and simple, he ran the red light. It is sad and it's even more upsetting because I knew Josh. All I ask is that rather than lashing out at one comment or stereotype, do not overcompensate by blaming it on the other party. I think the most important thing to do right now is keep the family in your prayers and hope the younger brother is ok.

Posted by: teen Location: nebraska on Aug 30, 2008 at 12:33 PM
all of you should just look back at what you are arguing about. the truck ran a red light. it was his fault, but that doesnt mean that all truckers are bad. it could have happened just the same if it were a regular car running a red light. the only difference is that a semi is bigger.

Posted by: jaimie on Aug 29, 2008 at 08:50 PM
ok... i know josh... and i understand that is wasn't josh's fault. but im also not going to blame all truck drivers. semis are alot bigger than cars. so we obviously need to be careful. but this semi didnt do this on purpose. josh is a good kid. and i speak for everyone when i say we love him... so i think that we should all do what josh would have wanted and looked at this in the best way possible. he would be trying to smile right now.

Posted by: not his fault Location: omaha nebraska on Aug 29, 2008 at 07:41 PM
alright. so he got hit by a semi. but what i remember from drivers ed, is that you are supposed to look before you turn. josh obviously didnt do that. so its a shared fault. the trucker ran the red light. but he pulled out in front of him. yes he had the right of way, but he should have seen a freaking semi-truck barreling down the highway towards an intersection. i see equal blame. but no one party is at complete fault

Posted by: 402 area Location: neb on Aug 29, 2008 at 08:40 AM
everyone is allowed to greeve in ther own way let it be critizing others WE LIVE IN AMERICA

Posted by: MJ Location: Grand Island on Aug 28, 2008 at 01:36 PM
My father drove truck. He was going around a cruve when a car came from the other way in his lane. He made the choice to take the ditch. When he did his truck rolled and he was killed. Did I or my family call all cars death machines? No did we blame all who drove cars, No. Until we walk in a persons shoes we should not judge. Terrible accidents happen every day. Drivers are distracted all the time we are not perfect. But I do know not all truckers are to blame any more than all people which drive 4 wheelers are. Dad I still miss you!

Posted by: Cindy Location: Lincoln on Aug 28, 2008 at 12:06 PM
Mad Mom are you aware that these "Death machines" are what keeps this country alive? I would like you to tell me 5 diffrent things in your everyday life that has not been involved some way with being delivered by a Death machine truck. Do you happen to know just how long it takes for one of these trucks to stop when when a car pulls out in front of them. Did you know when your behind a truck if you can not see both side mirrors on the side of the cab. That driver can not see you back there? I feel so sorry for all that this accident will effect. But please do not make statments about things you are not educated about. Truck drivers are out there just trying to make a living for their family just like all the rest of us. They may make mistakes just like all the rest of us do. But don't lump them together any more then you can lump all who drive cars together.

Posted by: truckers son Location: ne on Aug 28, 2008 at 11:48 AM
to mad mom- layoff the truck drivers. people in cars cause more wrecks because they don't understand that it takes awhile to shut a loaded truck down. yes this is a bad deal but don't put the blame on truck drivers

Posted by: Becky Location: Kearney on Aug 28, 2008 at 11:22 AM
I was married to a truck driver for 23 years. I rode with him thousands of miles. I saw with my own eyes more than I care to remember incidents in which cars were at fault and nearly causing accidents. So do not blame all truck drivers. By the way he died in a semi accident and it was caused by a car. Yes this was a tragic accident and my heart goes out to the families. May God hold them close in this time of sorrow. But also hold close the truck driver as well, I am positive he is hurting as well. If he could start that day over and change the out come, I know he would. Just a matter of a couple minutes can change a persons life forever.

Posted by: Brad Location: Omaha on Aug 28, 2008 at 10:18 AM
As a response to MAD MOM, I am a truck driver, and I cannot tell you how many times a car has pulled out in front of me, has passed me and stopped in front of me at a stop light. I have had one person rear end me getting off an on ramp that wasn't paying attention. The AAA did a study in the early '90s, 80%, yes, 80% percent of fatal car-truck accidents were caused by actions CARS did, not trucks. You talk of tailgating? Most cars behind me in Omaha I cannot even see, they are so close. Cars pass me, and cut back over so close I cannot even see their rear bumper, which in incredible because the Volvo I drive is a very short hooded truck. I think you had better check your facts and look in the mirror before condemning an entire industry based on one tragic accident. And btw, the rules in the drivers manual says don't go on a green until you have looked to make sure their is no traffice entering the intersection. Tragedy, yes, but one that could have been avoided.

Posted by: MAD MOM on Aug 28, 2008 at 12:37 AM
Is anyone else out there furious about this?? How many times have I been tailgated and passed by semi trailers who dominate the road with thier huge "death machines"??!! A family is broken. Its sad and way past due for some kind of law to put the smack down on these morons who speed down our highways killing kids!!!!! I hope the family doesnt loose the other boy too. God give them some measure of peace tonight and in the time to come.