Podraza
Legacy Name: Podraza

My Story...

An Omaha pharmacist and his two young daughters on their way to a family Christmas in Broken Bow were killed Saturday afternoon in an accident just west of Ansley. Jeff Podraza, 44, of Omaha and his daughters Jordyn, 12, and Taylor, 10, died when the Chevy Avalanche he was driving crossed the centerline at about 2:45 p.m. and struck a semitrailer truck driven by Mike Connely of Broken Bow. According to Jaci Peterson of Broken Bow, Podraza’s aunt, the family became concerned when he and the girls didn’t show up for the celebration and they couldn’t be reached by cell phone. “All we know is that the Podraza vehicle was westbound and, for whatever reason, drove left of center and was struck by Connely,” Sgt. Bob Rose the Nebraska State Patrol said Sunday. The Podraza vehicle caught on fire, and the girls were trapped inside, Rose said. When he arrived on the scene, Podraza’s body was lying on the pavement. Rose said he was unsure if Podraza had been thrown from the vehicle or someone on the scene before him had pulled him from the vehicle. Connely wasn’t seriously injured, Rose said. “We don’t think it was weather-related. We don’t know why he crossed the center line,” Rose said. “The accident is still under investigation. Hopefully, we will find an answer.” (They never found out why or how.) Traci Ahlbrandt of Omaha was Jeff Podraza’s friend. She went to pharmacy school with him, interned at the same store with Podraza and worked with him at Walgreen’s. “He was always full of life. Always. And always, smiling.” she said.

Taylor- An athletic girl that loved volleyball, soccer, the color orange, and sharpies.

Jordyn- A fun-loving, athletic girl who loved volleyball and soccer.

Every one who knew Taylor and Jordyn puts their initials (TP and JP) on their shoes in memory of them.