The victims have been identified as 65-year-old Daniel Gaunt and 60-year-old Helen Rosso, both from St. Edward, Nebraska. Emergency responders pronounced them dead at the scene. Authorities noted that both Gaunt and Rosso were wearing helmets, a detail shared to answer early public questions and emphasize that the pair had been taking safety precautions. Officials also confirmed that alcohol is not suspected for either driver, underscoring that this tragedy unfolded despite responsible behavior.

Highway 77 remained closed for several hours as deputies carefully processed the crash site, documented evidence, and cleared damaged vehicles from the roadway. The highway was fully reopened shortly before 4 p.m., allowing traffic to return to normal. Investigators say the incident remains under active review and that additional information may be released as reconstruction efforts continue. Interviews, evidence analysis, and scene mapping will all play a role in determining what led to the fatal moment.

For residents of St. Edward—located about two hours from Omaha—the news has been deeply painful. In smaller towns where people know one another by name, losses like this ripple far beyond immediate family. Gaunt and Rosso were known in their community, and their sudden deaths have left friends, neighbors, and loved ones grieving while trying to understand how such a tragedy could occur so quickly.