In the heart of south-central Nebraska, a devastating scene unfolded under the cover of darkness on Friday, August 15, 2025. At approximately 9:38 p.m., the Phelps County 911 Center received frantic calls reporting a catastrophic three-vehicle collision at the intersection of Highway 6/34 and T Road, just west of the small village of Funk. What first responders encountered was a harrowing tableau of destruction: a Chevrolet Silverado and a Ford F-250 engulfed in roaring flames, their frames mangled beyond recognition, and a Chevrolet Suburban nearby, its driver’s side and front end crumpled from the violent impact. The crash claimed the lives of three men and left two others clinging to hope in hospital beds, forever altering the lives of those in this tight-knit rural community.
The Phelps County Attorney’s Office has now identified the three men who perished in the inferno: Wallace R. Martin, a 67-year-old resident of Holdrege, known for his deep roots in the community; Randall R. Franklin, a 36-year-old from Funk, whose vibrant spirit left an indelible mark; and Justin M. Mason, a 34-year-old from Arapahoe, remembered for his warmth and dedication to those he loved. Their lives were cut short in the Chevrolet Silverado, where they succumbed to injuries sustained in the crash and the subsequent fire. Autopsies have been completed in Omaha, but final results, pending additional forensic testing, are expected to take four to six weeks, leaving families and authorities awaiting answers.
The response to the crash was swift and heroic. Multiple fire departments from Holdrege, Funk, and Loomis, alongside law enforcement and EMTs, raced to the scene. Amid the chaos, firefighters battled the blaze to extinguish the flames consuming the Silverado and Ford F-250. Inside the Ford, a lone occupant, 35-year-old Brock W. Schneider of Axtell, was pulled from the wreckage and rushed to Phelps County Memorial Hospital. Later transferred to CHI Health Good Samaritan in Kearney, Schneider remains in serious but stable condition, fighting to recover from his injuries.
The Chevrolet Suburban carried two passengers: 35-year-old Alyssa K. Kahle of Minden and a minor child. Kahle, gravely injured, was life-flighted from the scene to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney before being transferred to a Kansas City-area hospital, where she remains in serious but stable condition. Miraculously, the child in her vehicle escaped physical harm and was released to family members that night after being evaluated at Kearney County Health Systems in Minden. The resilience of this young survivor stands as a small beacon of hope amid the tragedy.
Phelps County Attorney Corey O’Brien has vowed that the investigation, led by the Nebraska State Patrol with support from the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department, will leave no stone unturned. Authorities are meticulously piecing together the events leading to the crash, analyzing video footage, crash reconstruction data, medical reports, and witness accounts. While preliminary findings are expected soon, the question of what caused this catastrophic collision—and whether criminal charges will follow—remains unanswered. The Phelps County Attorney’s Office has extended its deepest sympathies to the families of Martin, Franklin, and Mason, acknowledging the profound loss felt across the community. They also praised the first responders, whose courage and professionalism shone through under unimaginable circumstances.
The intersection of Highway 6/34 and T Road, a quiet stretch in rural Nebraska, now bears the weight of this tragedy. As the investigation continues, authorities are urging anyone who witnessed the crash or its immediate aftermath to come forward with information. Contact the Phelps County Attorney’s Office at (308) 995-2293, the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department at (308) 995-5692, or the Nebraska State Patrol-Troop D Headquarters at (308) 535-8050. Every detail could help provide closure to the grieving families and clarity to a community shaken by loss.
In Holdrege, Funk, and Arapahoe, the names Wallace Martin, Randall Franklin, and Justin Mason echo through conversations, their memories etched into the hearts of neighbors and loved ones. As Phelps County mourns, the resolve to uncover the truth behind this fateful night burns as fiercely as the flames that lit up the Nebraska sky.
