In a news release sent by Washington County Board of Supervisors' Steve Dethlefs, the chairman announced former supervisor and current Washington County Community Foundation executive director Jordan Rishel was killed in a car accident Thursday evening.
According to information provided by the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP), who is handling the investigation, at approximately 7 p.m. on Thursday, the Washington County Sheriff's Office and NSP were called to a two-vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 30 near Arlington.
"Preliminary investigation shows that a Jeep Wrangler was westbound on Highway 30 when it lost control in slick driving conditions, entered the eastbound lane, and struck a Ford F-150," the NSP statement reads. "The driver of the Jeep, Jordan Rishel, 45, of Blair, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The two occupants of the Ford were transported to the hospital in Fremont with what are believed to be non-life-threatening injuries. The crash remains under investigation."
The statement from Dethlefs reads that Rishel served on the Board of Supervisors from 2018-22.
"She was a trusted and valued Board member during her four-year term. Further, Jordan worked tirelessly to improve the County and the City of Blair as Director of the Blair Chamber of Commerce for 11 years and more recently as Director of Washington County Community
Foundation," the statement reads. "The county has lost a true servant, leader and more importantly a friend. The Board expresses our deepest condolences to the Rishel family."
The Enterprise will provide updates as they become available.
