Another fatal accident in Nebraska linked to alcohol sales near reservation border

Thursday, September 14, 2017  

Another fatal accident in Nebraska is being linked to the sale of alcohol near the Pine Ridge Reservation.

The accident occurred on Saturday near Chadron, the Nebraska State Patrol said in a press release. A six-year-old girl named Christina Roubideaux died the following day after being flown to Denver Children’s Hospital, where a second young victim was also treated.

Kimberly Eagle Bull, 32, a resident of the reservation, is facing drunken driving, motor vehicle homicide and other charges. According to the state patrol, she lost control of the van she was driving and it flipped over, causing injuries to six people, including three children.

According to The Lincoln Journal Star, Pine Ridge residents have been driving to Chadron to purchase alcohol because stores in Whiteclay, a town much closer to the reservation, were shut down in late April. In an extensive report, Beyond Whiteclay, the paper published data that showed a dramatic rise in sales in Chadron and other communities further from the reservation.

The Journal Star has counted three fatal alcohol related accidents in Nebraska since the shutdown in Whiteclay.

Read More on the Story:
Girl, 6, killed in third alcohol-related crash since Whiteclay beer stores closed (The Lincoln Journal Star September 14, 2017)
Names Released In Fatal Crash On Slim Buttes Road (The Chadron Record September 13, 2017)
South Dakota woman arrested in connection with NW Neb. crash that killed 6-year-old (The Omaha World-Herald September 13, 2017)
Driver arrested following fatal crash in Dawes County (Nebraska Radio Network September 13, 2017)
Woman arrested on charges in fatal crash in Dawes County (The Scottsbluff Star-Herald September 13, 2017)
Women charged with homicide, driving under the influence following death of 6-year-old (NTV September 13, 2017)
Woman charged in fatal crash in Dawes County (The North Platte Bulletin September 13, 2017)

Native Sun News Today: The fight for Whiteclay moves into the court system (September 8, 2017)
Liquor stores in Pine Ridge Reservation border town ask court for ruling to reopen (August 29, 2017)
Whiteclay liquor store owners head to highest court in Nebraska (May 10, 2017)
Native Sun News Today: Whiteclay liquor sales come to an abrupt halt (May 9, 2017)
Whiteclay goes quiet as liquor stores near reservation shut down (May 1, 2017)
Whiteclay liquor stores must close temporarily amid court battle (April 28, 2017)
Whiteclay liquor stores win surprise court ruling on liquor licenses (April 27, 2017)
Native Sun News Today: Battle over Whiteclay liquor just beginning (April 27, 2017)
Whiteclay liquor stores aim to stay open pending fight for licenses (April 26, 2017)
Whiteclay liquor stores ordered to shut down after losing licenses (April 20, 2017)
Nebraska commission holds long hearing on Whiteclay liquor stores (April 7, 2017)