LINCOLN, Neb. — Twenty-one people lost their lives in traffic crashes on Nebraska roadways during June, according to newly released data from the Nebraska Department of Transportation.
The fatalities occurred in 19 separate crashes across the state.
Of the 15 vehicle occupants who were killed, six were not wearing seatbelts, six were wearing seatbelts, and seatbelt use was unknown for the remaining three. Overall, NDOT says only 29 of the 85 vehicle occupants killed so far in 2026 were confirmed to have been wearing seatbelts.
Most of June's fatal crashes occurred in rural areas, with 12 of the 21 deaths reported outside urban locations. Two fatalities occurred on Interstate highways, while 12 happened on other state highways and seven were on local roads.
The June fatalities also included four motorcyclists, one pedestrian, one bicyclist and one person operating a utility terrain vehicle (UTV).
Through the first six months of 2026, Nebraska has recorded 104 traffic fatalities in 94 fatal crashes. That is one fewer death than at the same point in 2025, when 105 people had been killed, and below the four-year average of 110 fatalities for the same period.
NDOT continues to encourage motorists to wear seatbelts, avoid distractions, obey speed limits and never drive impaired as part of ongoing efforts to reduce traffic deaths across the state.
The department updates Nebraska's traffic fatality count daily on its online traffic fatality dashboard.