Omaha Surgeon Charged with Manslaughter in Crash That Killed USD Student
An Omaha doctor, Mark Carlson, is now facing criminal charges after a car crash resulted in the death of a University of South Dakota (USD) student. Carlson, a surgeon at the Omaha VA Medical Center and a professor at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, has been charged with manslaughter following the incident.
The tragic accident occurred on September 1 at around 10:30 p.m. when authorities responded to a report of a rollover crash at the intersection of 62nd Street and Dodge Street in Omaha. At the scene, they found Anna Bosma’s Chevy Cruze overturned, and sadly, she was pronounced dead. Carlson’s Mercedes E63 AMG was also off the roadway, and Carlson himself, along with Bosma’s passenger William Story, was taken to the hospital for treatment.
Deputy Douglas County Attorney Brenda Beadle, in an interview with Omaha TV news station KETV, alleged that Carlson was involved in a race or road rage incident, traveling at high speeds when he lost control of his vehicle. According to Beadle, Carlson’s car veered out of its lane, struck a pole on the north side, and careened across several lanes of traffic. Tragically, Bosma’s car was struck head-on after Carlson’s vehicle crossed four lanes of traffic.
To gather more evidence, investigators obtained a search warrant and examined the airbag control module in Carlson’s car. Data retrieved from the module revealed that Carlson was traveling at 106 mph at full acceleration when he hit the pole. The module also recorded that Carlson’s vehicle was traveling at 101 mph when it collided with Bosma’s car. The posted speed limit in that area was only 35 mph.
Due to the severity of the incident, Carlson is now facing a Class IIA felony charge, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. As Carlson currently recovers in a local hospital, a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Bosma, a recent honors graduate of South Dakota State University, was pursuing a doctorate in occupational therapy at USD. Her untimely death has shocked and saddened the community.
This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible and safe driving. Speeding and reckless behavior on the roads can have devastating consequences, as seen in this case. Our thoughts and condolences go out to the family and friends of Anna Bosma during this difficult time.
