LANCASTER COUNTY, NE — The Firth community is mourning the devastating loss of Patrick and Penny Holley, a beloved couple whose lives were tragically cut short in a two-vehicle collision along Highway 77 on Wednesday afternoon. The fatal crash occurred around 4:07 p.m., November 12, near Firth Road, just north of Cortland.
According to the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office (LSO), the crash involved a 2007 Buick Lucerne driven by 63-year-old Patrick Holley, with his wife Penny Holley, also 63, in the passenger seat. Investigators say the Holleys’ vehicle was traveling west on Firth Road when it entered the intersection at Highway 77 and collided with a northbound 1993 Ford F-250 driven by 43-year-old Joseph Grant of Lincoln.
The impact sent the Holleys’ car into a nearby ditch, while the pickup came to rest in the median. Emergency crews from Hallam Fire & Rescue, Firth Fire & Rescue, Cortland Fire & Rescue, Lincoln Fire & Rescue, and StarCare Air Ambulance responded to the scene. Despite their swift efforts, Patrick Holley was pronounced dead at the scene, and Penny Holley later succumbed to her injuries at a nearby hospital.
Joseph Grant was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. No other vehicles were involved. Deputies closed the intersection for several hours as investigators reconstructed the scene and gathered evidence. Preliminary findings indicate that alcohol and drugs were not factors in the collision, though it remains under investigation whether seat belts were in use.
Captain John A. Vik of the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office expressed heartfelt condolences to the victims’ loved ones.
“This is a devastating loss for the Firth community,” Vik said. “Patrick and Penny were well-known and deeply respected residents, and their passing leaves a profound void in the hearts of all who knew them.”
As word of the tragedy spread, friends, neighbors, and colleagues described the Holleys as a kind and compassionate couple devoted to their family and community. They were known for their generosity, strong faith, and the deep love they shared for one another.
Local residents have begun leaving flowers near the crash site and offering prayers for the couple’s family. “They were the kind of people who made this town what it is—good, honest, and caring,” one neighbor said. “This is just heartbreaking.”
The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office continues to review all evidence, including vehicle data, to determine the precise cause of the crash.
As Firth mourns the loss of Patrick and Penny Holley, their memory will live on in the community they helped build—two lives forever remembered for their kindness, warmth, and the love they shared both with each other and with everyone around them.