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Mother-to-be in Mother’s Day car crash dies

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By the Lincoln Journal Star

Friday, May 19, 2006 - 12:10:46 am CDT

A mother-to-be critically injured in a car accident on Mother’s Day has died, her husband says.

Misty Smith-Luebbert, 30, was taken off life support late Wednesday at BryanLGH Medical Center West and died just after midnight, Dan Luebbert said.

She was seven months pregnant.

Jadyn Darlene Luebbert was delivered by Caesarean section after the accident. She is in stable condition at St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center’s neonatal intensive care unit.

She weighed 2 pounds, 12 ounces at birth.

About 6:15 a.m. Sunday, Smith-Luebbert was in a car stopped on South Ninth Street near Park Avenue while her husband delivered newspapers when a sport utility vehicle driven by 20-year-old Haley R. Hilligas of Lincoln struck her car from behind, according to police.

Hilligas was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.

Smith-Luebbert, who had been a drug and alcohol counselor at First Step Recovery Center for three years, had just received her Licensed Mental Health Practitioner and Licensed Professional Counselor certificates two days before the accident.

Her funeral will be 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home.

Donations to defray the medical care for Jadyn Darlene and to help set up an educational fund for her can be made at any Union Bank location.


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Karen wrote on May 19, 2006 6:55 am:
" Prayers to the family. "

 Lisa wrote on May 19, 2006 7:25 am:
" What a tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are for your family. "

 RW-Bertrand wrote on May 19, 2006 8:43 am:
" My deepest sympathy for Dan, Jadyn, and his family and of course Leora, Sonny & Curtis & family and all the rest that knew and loved Misty. I know she will be dearly missed by all. My prayers and thoughts are with you. "

 Ranae wrote on May 19, 2006 8:47 am:
" What a sad story. Sweet little girl never got a chance to meet her mother because of a drunk underage driver. My thoughts & prayers are with the Smith & Luebbert family. "

 alan wrote on May 19, 2006 9:09 am:
" What a shame that a drunk driver takes anothers life. I hope the courts find guitly and sentence him for life. Here's a case that I don't believe should be charged as manslaughter, but murder. Surely the drunk knew their actions while drinking could end up as they did. This then should constitute 1st degree murder. We pray for the newborn and family who will raise this child without a mother. "

 luebbert family wrote on May 19, 2006 10:46 am:
" what i witnessed mother's day has deeply affected me and my grief for the family and how angry I am at the drunken driver My heart goes out to the luebbert family. This neighborhood that witnessed this useless fatality is in deep mourning. The one light is, Jadyn and Dan are the survivor. Dan will always have a part of his wife through their child. Leta Dunn, park ave and ninth "

 Dawn wrote on May 19, 2006 12:18 pm:
" God Bless Dan and his daughter. Remember to pray for the driver as her road ahead will be one of grief and agony as well. "

 Dottie wrote on May 19, 2006 4:18 pm:
" My thoughts and prayers are with you. "

 JB wrote on May 19, 2006 5:31 pm:
" My hope for this drunk driver is that there may be consequences and restitution down the road as well. Consequences, penalties, and restitution for the person who illegally supplied alcohol to a minor; and apparently no one thought of driving her home, she had already spent the night, wherever that may have been. "

 shari wrote on May 19, 2006 6:37 pm:
" this scares me. my parents have a paper route around that area also. god bless this baby. i will keep you all in my prayers. "

 Mary and Cassie wrote on May 19, 2006 6:39 pm:
" It's a tragedy what happened. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Luebbert family. We grew up with Haley and also went to school with her and this is not her. She is a very kind-hearted person and what she did was wrong. But she is not a murderer. We were very devestated when we heard the news. Please don't look at Haley as a monster because she is far from that. We're praying for you too, girl. Keep your head up cuz the road ahead will be a tough one. "

 Fred wrote on May 19, 2006 6:48 pm:
" Tears come to my eyes when I think hard into the sadness of this tragedy. To think someone is driving drunk at 6:00a.m.is hard to imagine. One never knows when their time is up. "

 A Mother wrote on May 19, 2006 11:09 pm:
" My heart goes out to the Luebbert family. It is a real tragedy that such a young, caring, warm hearted woman could not only ruin the Luebbert family's lives, but her own as well. Haley had so much potential for herself and her future. To all that have harsh comments and that are angry at this girl, remember it is a mistake that she will have to live with the rest of her life. God will know how to guide the Luebbert Family and help them get through the grief. I agree it will be a long road for both families. God Bless all of you. "

 TC wrote on May 19, 2006 11:17 pm:
" My heart goes out to the Smith-Luebbert family, as well as the Hilligas family. Both families have lost. Haley was 20 years old and driving intoxicated - can we all please remember where we were at the age of 20?? I know I did not make the best decisions possible and I'm sure that is true of most of us. This event is tragic and my only hope is that young people can learn from it and make better decisions as a result. "

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