Pursuit Leads to Arrest in Northeast Lincoln

November 5, 2026 (Lincoln, Neb.)  — Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested a Colorado man after a pursuit in northeastern Lancaster County Thursday.

Just after 12:00 p.m. Thursday, NSP received a report of a Chevrolet Impala that had been involved in a hit and run on Interstate 80 near Lincoln. The vehicle was reportedly speeding, struck the back of a trailer, and continued driving eastbound.

At about 12:15 p.m., a trooper saw the vehicle traveling eastbound on I-80 in Lincoln. The trooper attempted a traffic stop, but the driver accelerated, causing a pursuit. The vehicle reached speeds exceeding 110 miles per hour on I-80 before exiting onto southbound 56th Street. As the vehicle approached high traffic areas on 56th Street, the trooper discontinued the pursuit out of concern for public safety.

A short time later, another trooper saw the same vehicle speeding on Highway 6, traveling eastbound out of Lincoln. The trooper attempted another traffic stop, but the driver again refused to yield. The NSP AirWing was airborne and took over the pursuit from the air as the vehicle fled toward Waverly on Highway 6. It then turned around and drove back into Lincoln. During the pursuit, the driver is suspected of throwing a gun out of the vehicle and onto the road on Highway 6, near 98th Street. Troopers recovered the firearm.

NSP pilots tracked the vehicle to the area of 71st and Douglas, where the vehicle parked and a single occupant exited and began walking away. Pilots directed troopers on the ground to the area and troopers took the driver into custody without further incident.

The driver, James Bernard, 44, of Thornton, Colorado, was taken into custody. Bernard was arrested for flight to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving, possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person, possession of a deadly weapon while committing a felony, possession of a controlled substance, and other charges. The entire pursuit lasted approximately 12 minutes.