The State of Nebraska’s insurance is settling a personal injury lawsuit with two former Chadron State College wrestlers and has agreed to pay out nearly $3 million to injured parties. Max Baker and Willy Jones received head injuries as a result of an accident in Colorado that occurred in 2008. The wrestling team headed for the Denver International Airport to fly to Nevada for a wrestling tournament. Jones also suffered a shattered hip and a severed urethra because of the accident.
The team was traveling in a 2003 Ford Excursion, three miles south of the Wyoming/Colorado state line. Mark Pfeiffer, an assistant wrestling coach, was driving the vehicle. Interstate 25-road traffic slowed down and the driver attempted to do the same. Pfeiffer lost control after the vehicle hit a patch of black ice. The Ford Excursion hit the guardrail twice before going over an embankment and rolling once. Six individuals were hurt and transported to a nearby hospital, although only Baker and Jones suffered serious injuries. The local authorities did not charge or cite Pfeiffer. The CSC wrestling team pulled out of the tournament.
As part of the settlement, the two former wrestlers filed tort claims in Nebraska, where the law allows individuals to file lawsuits against government agencies after an act of negligence by the agency or its employees which causes loss of personal property, injury or death.
As a result of the settlement, Baker is to receive $1 million and Jones is to receive $1.7 million.