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(Lancaster County, NE) -- The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office says a preliminary crash investigation shows a Grand Island man killed in a traffic crash was most likely under the influence of synthetic marijuana.
"It does the same thing as marijuana; sometimes delta-8 is even more powerful than regular marijuana. We do know from the investigation that he liked to go driving around and smoke the vape pen with THC in them. This was not an uncommon act for him to do," said Chief Deputy Ben Houchin.
He says 20-year-old Zacharie Cloutier crossed the center line on Highway 79 near West Bluff Road early Tuesday and collided with a semi. The semi driver was not hurt. The Sheriff's Office awaits autopsy and lab results.
Chief Houchin says CBD stores are becoming more common throughout Nebraska, including in Lincoln.
"We are beginning to see more of that; it's no secret. You can hardly throw a rock around Lincoln and not hit one of these CBD stores," said Houchin.
He says multiple THC and CBD vapes were found in Cloutier's car during the investigation. The Sheriff's Office awaits autopsy and lab results.