HAZARD — A Kearney man charged last week in Kearney County Court with two felonies involving a child died this morning (Tuesday) in a head-on crash west of Hazard.
Shawn Dowse, 44, died after the pickup he was driving west on Highway 2 collided with an eastbound straight truck being driven by Alan Nielsen, 52, of Litchfield. The crash happened about 8:30 a.m. two miles west of Hazard.
Nielsen was transported to CHI Health Good Samaritan where he was listed in fair condition this afternoon (Tuesday).
An autopsy has been ordered for Dowse. The crash was investigated by accident reconstructionists from the Nebraska State Patrol and remains under investigation.
Dowse was charged Sept. 7 in Kearney County Court with felony child abuse and enticement by electronic device, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, a misdemeanor. A court date hadn’t been set, and he was free on bond.
Dowse was the boys golf coach at Kearney Catholic High School in the spring 2016 season. A Kearney Catholic High School representative said Dowse did not sign another contract for this year.
Court records in the criminal case have been sealed, however, a civil protection order was filed Sept. 6 by the mother of Dowse’s alleged victim in Kearney County District Court. In the order the mother says Dowse allegedly had ongoing online sexual communication with the girl.
Dowse and the girl allegedly met in July at Kearney’s Harmon Park pool, and he asked her to babysit, giving the girl his contact information. Dowse and the girl allegedly communicated online with graphic sexual detail, according to the protection order.
In August, the protection order accused Dowse of buying the girl expensive shoes, then leaving them for her at the Kearney County school she attended. The protection order says Dowse went to the school during a class period break, but the protection order isn’t clear if the girl ever met with Dowse.
Earlier this month, a law enforcement investigation revealed Dowse had allegedly gone to a Kearney County-area football game to see the girl.
District Judge Stephen Illingworth issued the protection order Sept. 6, which was served to Dowse the same day. Friday, the mother asked the protection order be sealed to protect the identity of her daughter, but there was no response on the record to her request.