Police Officer Eric Lee Ottis

Eric Lee Ottis

Officer Eric Ottis was killed in an automobile accident while returning from the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center at approximately 1140 hours.

During the previous day, a storm had knocked down a stop sign at an intersection. Officer Ottis was driving through this intersection when another driver, who didn't see the stop sign because it had been knocked down in a storm the previous day, entered the intersection and struck Officer Ottis's vehicle on the passenger side.

The driver of the other vehicle pleaded no contest to misdemeanor motor vehicle homicide and was sentenced to serve 90 days in jail, two years probation and 100 hours of community service. He also was ordered not to drive for six months.

Officer Ottis had been employed with the Bennington Police Department for 18 months, and is survived by his son, daughter, father, two sisters, grandparents, and three nephews.