NU Regent, deputy county attorney charged with DUI causing serious injury

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - A Douglas County deputy attorney serving as a Nebraska Regent is facing charges after authorities say her blood-alcohol level registered at more than four times the legal limit in the aftermath of a head-on crash that left one person with life-threatening injuries.

Douglas County Court documents filed July 30 state that authorities recorded Elizabeth O’Connor, 34, as having 0.321% blood-alcohol content following a crash at 8:33 p.m. Wednesday, May 21, near 63rd and Blondo streets.

O’Connor made her first appearance in front of a judge on Friday. She was formally charged with DUI causing serious bodily injury, a Class 3A Felony punishable by up to three years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.

She is currently scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Sept. 9.

O’Connor is one of 63 deputy county attorneys in Douglas County, working in the civil division. She has also served on the University of Nebraska Board of Regents since 2018.

Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine told First Alert 6 on Monday that as soon as a conflict of interest was realized, the case was handed over to the Omaha city prosecutor’s office. He said O’Connor remains employed with his office and has been an exemplary employee, “it’s an extremely serious matter.”

According to the affidavit, she was driving a green 2024 Subaru Outback eastbound on Blondo Street when she crossed into oncoming traffic and hit a 2013 Ford Focus headed westbound.

The front-seat passenger was taken by ambulance to Nebraska Medicine with a broken back and pelvis, the records state.

O’Connor was also taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

Court records also show that Omaha Police officers responding to the scene reported finding a half-empty bottle of Fireball Whisky in O’Connor’s vehicle.

“The University of Nebraska is deeply saddened by the events leading to the recent announcements concerning Regent Elizabeth O’Connor. We understand that this is an ongoing legal process," a University of Nebraska spokesperson said in a statement. "We extend our best wishes for a speedy recovery and complete healing to her, her family and all of those involved in these events.”

According to the Nebraska Regents website, O’Connor graduated summa cum laude from the University of Nebraska-Omaha in 2012 and passed the bar in 2015 after getting her law degree from Notre Dame. She also has experience as a litigator in private practice.

First Alert 6 has also reached out to O’Conner for a comment but has not yet received a response.