OMAHA, NEBRASKA – A Nebraska mother has been sentenced to a minimum of 70 years in prison following one of the deadliest DUI crashes in recent state history. Rachel Bickerstaff, 34, received 140 to 180 years behind bars after pleading “no contest” to four counts of motor vehicle homicide stemming from a September 2024 crash in downtown Omaha that killed her three young children and another driver.
The collision, which occurred at 10th and Douglas Streets, ended in flames after Bickerstaff — with a blood-alcohol content of .216, nearly three times the legal limit — slammed into another vehicle at more than 100 miles per hour, killing 70-year-old Michael Sales of Council Bluffs.
Bickerstaff’s children — a newborn, an 18-month-old, and a 5-year-old — were also pronounced dead. Investigators reported she had reached a top speed of 142 mph and ran a red light just before the devastating impact.
Douglas County District Court Judge Moll Keane sentenced Bickerstaff to 35 to 45 years per count, totaling up to 180 years. Under Nebraska’s “good time” law, she could be eligible for parole in 70 years — a term that still ensures she will spend most, if not all, of her life in prison.
Prosecutors described the crash as not an accident, but a result of a deliberate decision to drive while intoxicated at lethal speeds. Though Bickerstaff expressed remorse in court, saying, “I would trade my life for all the life lost,” the gravity of the victims' deaths weighed heavily on the court's sentencing.
The tragedy claimed the lives of four innocent people, leaving their families devastated:
Michael Sales, a 70-year-old father returning home from work
Bickerstaff’s 5-year-old child
Her 18-month-old toddler
And her newborn baby, all of whom were in her vehicle at the time
In a tearful courtroom address, Michael Sales’ daughter, Laura Sales, begged the court for a sentence that might deter others from inflicting such suffering.
“I speak because his voice was stolen. I beg this court to deliver a sentence that reflects the weight of what was taken from us.”
At Haggard Crime Victim Attorney, a division of The Haggard Law Firm, we recognize that drunk-driving crashes are preventable tragedies. Families like those of the Sales and Bickerstaff children are left to endure unimaginable grief due to the reckless decisions of intoxicated drivers.
Drunk-driving victims and their families may seek justice through:
Wrongful death lawsuits
Civil claims for emotional and financial damages
Punitive damages in extreme negligence cases
We believe in holding drivers, bars, and establishments accountable under dram shop laws, and we pursue justice relentlessly on behalf of victims.
Whether you’ve lost a loved one or suffered serious injuries due to someone else’s intoxicated driving, you are not alone. The legal process can help provide a sense of justice, financial relief, and long-term support.
Haggard Crime Victim Attorney has a long history of representing families of DUI victims, ensuring that wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases are handled with compassion and strength.
No sentence can reverse the loss experienced by the families involved in this heartbreaking case. But taking legal action can help bring closure, accountability, and a safer future for others.
If you or someone you love has been affected by a drunk-driving incident, contact Michael Haggard, Esq. today for a free consultation. We will fight for justice while treating you with the care and respect you deserve.
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