PLATTSMOUTH, Neb. — A 56-year-old snowplow driver accused in the death of a Nebraska state trooper earlier this year made his first court appearance Tuesday in Cass County.
Thomas Jordan of Palmyra appeared before Judge David Partsch, requesting a public defender as he said he could not afford legal representation. The court granted his request, appointing Plattsmouth attorney Julie Bear to represent him.
Jordan faces a misdemeanor charge of motor vehicle homicide, accused of causing the death of Trooper Kyle McAcy through “careless driving” during a snowstorm on Interstate 80 near mile marker 424 on Feb. 17.
Investigators say McAcy, a 10-year veteran of the Nebraska State Patrol, had been responding to a crash that morning when he was struck by the snowplow Jordan was operating. According to reports, McAcy was speaking with Jordan and asked him to move the plow. Jordan allegedly reversed the truck, hitting McAcy. Witnesses stopped to help, but McAcy died at the scene.
The Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office requested the Iowa State Patrol to inspect the plow as part of the investigation. Cass County Attorney Chris Perrone later decided to pursue charges.
If convicted, Jordan faces up to one year in jail. His next court date is set for Oct. 21 for a pretrial conference.
McAcy’s death marks the first Nebraska State Patrol line-of-duty death since Trooper Jerry Smith was killed in a crash in June 2019.
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