Omaha, NE — A Nebraska woman has been sentenced to a maximum of 180 years in prison after a devastating drunk driving crash that killed four people, including her three young children.
Rachel Bickerstaff, 34, appeared in Douglas County District Court this week, where Judge Molly Keane handed down the lengthy sentence, with eligibility for parole after 70 years.
The fatal crash occurred on September 27, 2024, near 10th and Douglas Streets in downtown Omaha. Investigators say Bickerstaff was traveling at speeds reaching 142 mph — more than five times the speed limit — and ran a red light at over 100 mph when she struck and killed Michael Sales, 70, who was returning home from work.
The crash also claimed the lives of Bickerstaff’s three children, aged 5 years, 18 months, and just 11 days old.
Authorities reported that Bickerstaff’s blood alcohol concentration was .216, nearly three times the legal limit. She had a prior DUI conviction, and in May, was charged with assault after allegedly attacking a fellow inmate while in jail.
During Wednesday’s sentencing, prosecutors described the profound emotional toll the crash had on first responders, calling for a sentence that reflects the severity of the tragedy.
“I’m here today because my dad can’t be,” a family member of one of the victims told the court. “His voice was stolen, and I beg this court to deliver a sentence that reflects the weight of what was taken from us.”
Bickerstaff, who admitted to a troubled upbringing involving abuse, alcohol, and drug use beginning at age 12, expressed remorse for her actions.
“I regret the pain and hurt I caused,” she told the court.
While Judge Keane acknowledged Bickerstaff’s apparent remorse, she noted that the risk of reoffending was high, leading to the severe sentence.
Bickerstaff is unlikely to ever be released from prison.
