A Stephenville, TX man will stand trial in Hitchcock County District Court in connection with a fatality accident involving two semis this past summer. Fifty-year-old Keith Gesegnet pled not guilty to 11 counts including Felony Motor Vehicle Homicide. The other charges relate to alcohol and numerous commercial motor vehicle violations.
Gesegnet is accused of driving a semi that collided with another semi at 5:55 am on July 18, 2024 at the junction of Highway 6 and Highway 25 or about 6 miles southeast of Palidade. The preliminary investigation showed that a semi, driven by Gesegnet, was traveling northbound on Highway 25, north of Trenton. The semi then failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection with Highway 6 and collided with another semi that was traveling westbound on Highway 6.
The driver of the westbound semi, 42-year-old Wayne A. Cook of McCook, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The City of McCook said that Cook was an employee of the City’s solid waste transfer station. He had been employed with the City for more than 7 years. In a statement, the City said the semi was hauling trash from McCook to the J Bar J Landfill south of Ogallala
District Judge Patrick Heng set a three-day jury trial to begin on at 9:00am on December 18, 2024 in Hitchcock County District Court. A pre-trial hearing was also scheduled for November 7, 2024 at 1:45pm. His bond of 10% of $200,000 was continued.
In addition to Felony Motor Vehicle Homicide, Gesegnet is also charged with Reckless Driving, Stop Sign Violation, Possession of Alcohol in a Commercial Motor Vehicle, Unlawful Use of Alcohol following a Commercial Motor Vehicle Accident, Consumption of Alcoholic Liquor in a Public Place, No Operator’s License on Person, Falsification of Record of Duty Status, No Valid Registration, Reciprocity- No Trip Permit and Failure to have a Fuel Permit. The Motor Vehicle Homicide charge is a Class IIIA (3-A) Felony which carries a maximum penalty of up to three years imprisonment, a ten thousand dollar fine, or both.
A Nebraska State Patrol affidavit says Gesegnet was transported from the accident scene to McCook for a legal blood draw. On the way to McCook, a stop was made at a Trenton convenience store where Gesegnet allegedly consumed an alcoholic beverage. The affidavit does not indicate how Gesegnet came into possession of an alcoholic beverage. A search of Gesegnet’s semi located alcohol with open alcoholic containers. The Nebraska Attorney General’s Office is assisting the Hitchcock County Attorney in prosecuting the case.
The Nebraska State Patrol conducted the investigation with assistance from Hitchcock County Sheriff’s Office. Numerous other agencies assisted on scene including McCook Police Department, Palisade and Trenton Fire Departments, and others.
