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Big Lake Man 1 Of 5 Killed In Nebraska Crashes

SIDNEY, Neb. (AP) -- Authorities have identified five people who died in two crashes in western Nebraska.

Authorities say 27-year-old Keith A. Johnson, of Big Lake, Minn., died after his semi crashed into a disabled semi Sunday on Interstate 80.

A second collision roughly three miles to the east killed a Maryland family. A truck driven by 36-year-old Josef Slezak, of River Grove, Ill., crashed into a Ford Mustang driven by 30-year-old Christopher Schmidt, of Gaithersburg, Md.

Schmidt died in the crash, and the force pushed him into a Toyota Corolla driven by his wife, 28-year-old Diana Schmidt. That crash pushed the Corolla underneath a truck, killing Diana Schmidt and the family's two children, 2-year-old Conner Schmidt and 3-year-old Sam Schmidt. Diana Schmidt was pregnant.

Slezak was unharmed. He faces manslaughter charges.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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