The collision occurred about 7:15 p.m. just south of Union, Nebraska, Capt. Dave Lamprecht of the Cass County Sheriff’s Office said Monday. A northbound 2000 Chevrolet pickup truck driven by Ronald Dubas, 55, of La Vista crossed the center line and collided with a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt registered in Topeka, Kansas.

The 21-year-old woman driving the Cobalt, Ashly Bracken, and three female passengers, Tatiyana Wade, 22, Keniah Robinson, 5, and Malaysia Reece, 4, were pronounced dead at the scene, Lamprecht said. The fourth passenger, Tabitha Bracken, 20, was taken to an Omaha hospital with critical injuries.

A hospital spokeswoman said Tuesday that Tabitha Bracken had improved to fair condition. All the people in the Cobalt are from Topeka, he said.

Dubas was taken to the Nebraska Medical Center with minor injuries, Lamprecht said. 

The Nebraska State Patrol and the Cass County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the cause of the collision.