Nebraska Woman Sentenced 180 Years for Fatal High-Speed DUI Crash Killing Four

Rachel Bickerstaff, a 34-year-old Nebraska woman, was sentenced to up to 180 years in prison for a high-speed DUI crash that killed four people, including her three children and a 70-year-old man named Michael Sales. The crash occurred in September 2024 when Bickerstaff, driving at 142 mph with a blood alcohol level of .216—nearly three times the legal limit—ran a red light and collided with Sales, who was returning home from work. Judge Molly Keane acknowledged Bickerstaff's remorse but emphasized the severity of the crash and the high risk of reoffending, leading to a parole eligibility only after 70 years. Prosecutors described the incident as one of the worst DUI cases in Douglas County, highlighting the lasting trauma on first responders and the victims' families. Bickerstaff's attorney noted her difficult childhood and long history of substance abuse beginning at age 12, while Sales' daughter expressed the deep and ongoing impact of her father's death. County Attorney Don Kleine stressed the importance of early intervention in substance abuse cases to prevent such tragedies.