Photo: Omaha Police Department
(Omaha, NE) -- Bond is set for the 22 year old man charged in the crash that claimed the lives of two Gretna women and an unborn baby.
On Thursday, a judge set bail at 10% of $1 million for Zachary Paulison, who is charged with two counts of Motor Vehicle Homicide - DUI and one count of Motor Vehicle Homicide - Death of Unborn Child in connection to the March 31st crash at 192nd and F streets.
Court documents show that just before 11:00 that night, Paulison was driving his Ford F-250 at speeds around 104 MPH on eastbound F Street moments before hitting a southbound Nissan Armada SUV at 192nd Street. Investigators say that just five minutes before the crash Paulison left Addy's bar, where a bartender had offered to get him a ride home. Court records show that Paulison was going 102 miles per hour when he hit the SUV that 37 year old Sara Zimmerman and 38 year old Amanda Schook were in. Zimmerman, the driver, was eight months pregnant. Investigators say they found no indication that Paulison tried to brake before hitting the SUV. Police say both vehicles came to rest on the southeast corner of the intersection, where the Nissan SUV caught fire.
Zimmerman, a corrections officer at the Douglas County Jail, and Schook, both of Gretna, died at the scene. Paulison suffered back and chest fractures in the crash. Shortly after the crash, a blood draw indicated Paulison had a 0.161 blood-alcohol content, twice the legal limit. Investigators found that Paulison was drinking at The Mark before heading to Addy’s around 7:30 that night. Court records show he also tested positive for cannabinoids.
Omaha Police took the crash investigation over from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office because of a personal relationship Paulison has with a deputy. He is also being held at the Sarpy County Jail, as opposed to the Douglas County Jail, because of Zimmerman's employment at DCC.