A deadly 4 a.m. crash with a car full of teenagers that finds alcohol getting headlines, also finds authorities working to avoid the investigative stalemate suffered in another somewhat similar wreck.

Referring to last Friday’s two-car collision at 204th and Q Streets in Elkhorn, a statement from the Douglas County Sheriff states, “Alcohol may be a factor in this accident.”

In addition, Chief Deputy Douglas County Sheriff Wayne Hudson tells KETV, “There’s other vehicles the teens had so we have one of those vehicles where we found some evidence that drinking might have been involved, so what we’re going to do is trace that back as far as we can get it and find out who provided the alcohol to the teens and hold them accountable.”

Two years ago four teen-age girls from Gretna were killed in a late night crash where authorities also put the blame on alcohol, as well as speeding.

But Sarpy County investigators hit a stone wall trying to determine who supplied the girls with alcohol.

In July, 2019 sheriff’s deputies announced that those who likely had information on the source of the alcohol weren’t talking.

Five months later, December 2019, they still weren’t— despite a $14,000 reward.

NCN’s Joe Jordan: That’s got to be incredibly frustrating.

Sheriff Jeff Davis: It is…Still today there are people when you talk about drinking and driving or that type of accident they’ll say, “You know they just made a mistake,” which is true, or people who don’t want to come forward with information because they’re worried about somebody else. But the goal in this is to see that it doesn’t happen again.

“The situation in Sarpy was very tragic, “Chief Deputy Hudson tells NCN.

NCN’s Joe Jordan: Are you concerned (the Sarpy case will be repeated) in this instance?

Chief Deputy Hudson:  Our situation may be different because we may have certain evidence that Sarpy did not have for their investigation. In the end we just want to provide justice to the family and hold those that purchase alcohol for minors accountable for their action. This must stop!

The Elkhorn accident killed 18-year-old Jamin Creek, a 2021 graduate of Burke High School.

According to investigators, the car Creek was in crashed into another car driven by 43-year-old Gino Dawson who was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

Four other teens riding along with Creek were also hurt, one critically.

The two-year-old Gretna crash is now the subject of a potentially explosive lawsuit.

As  families of some of the girls are blaming Sarpy County for “defective” road and guardrail design that was “negligent, reckless and or willful.”

A lengthy investigation by NCN has uncovered several bumps in the road on both sides of the dispute, setting up a likely fight between a potentially bad road and questionable driving decisions.