Lippstreu takes Bloom case under advisement

Scotts Bluff County District Judge Randy Lippstreu has taken under advisement the manslaughter and motor vehicle homicide case against Bryan Bloom of Henry following closing arguments Thursday morning. The 19 year old Bloom is accused in an accident June 20, 2011 near the Wyoming-Nebraska state line that killed 18 year old Johrdan Stone

Stone died from a fractured neck and head injuries when he stuck his head out from the vehicle Bloom was driving and it struck a temporary road sign in a construction zone.

During closing arguments, Deputy County Attorney Tiffany Wasserburger said Bloom's actions through out the day caused Stone's death. She emphasized the defendant getting drunk with Stone in Henry, deciding to drive him back to Torrington while legally intoxicated, running off the road in the construction zone so Stone's head hit the sign, and then lying about what happened to Police.

Public defender Bernie Straetker maintained the improper placement of the sign and not Bloom's driving caused Stone's death. Straetker says the sign should never have been there, was not in a safe location, and violated manual guidelines.

© 2013 Rural Radio Network. All rights reserved. Republishing, rebroadcasting, rewriting, redistributing prohibited. Copyright Information