Man Whose Father Killed by Drunk Driver While Biking Testifies on LB530

A Gering man travelled 800 miles roundtrip last week to provide testimony on a bill that would bring justice for his father, who was killed by a reckless drunk driver.

Eric Anderson spoke before the Nebraska legislature’s Judicial committee on Friday on LB530, which is aimed at redefining provisions to motor vehicle homicide and the legal term of reckless driving.

In 2023, 76-year-old Merlin Anderson was bicycling on Highway 26, and was struck and killed by a drunk driver. Eric Anderson testified that a clerical error was the difference of a lengthy prison sentence versus a stint in county jail.

The driver was ultimately convicted on a charge of misdemeanor motor vehicle homicide and was sentenced to 365 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Anderson concluded his testimony by saying that there was more than a 100% increase in biker fatalities from 2023 to 2024, and says lawmakers need to act now to keep Nebraska bikers safe, with swifter and stricter punishments to those drivers who cause harm, injury, or even death to those riding bikes on our roadways.

You can watch his full five minute testimony from Friday below: