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Founder of Omaha's Hope Center for Kids, wife killed in car crash

The founder of Omaha’s Hope Center for Kids and his wife were among four people killed Thursday in a car crash in South Dakota.

Ty and Terri Schenzel died in the two-vehicle head-on crash on Interstate 90 Thursday afternoon near Alexandria, South Dakota. Authorities say a pickup going east in the westbound lanes crashed into another vehicle.

The Hope Center for Kids began in 1998. It now has locations in Omaha and Fremont, and offers educational, recreational, and leadership opportunities for 5 to 19-year-olds.

Ty Schenzel was also a pastor at Waypoint Church in Omaha.

The Hope Center issued this statement Friday morning:

"Ty and Terri Schenzel are beloved and integral members of The Hope Center for Kids family.  They will be sorely missed.
 
We are saddened beyond belief by this news and our prayers are with their families and the families of the other couple involved Ryan and Emily Hrubes, as well as the driver of the other vehicle.
 
We along with their faith families and all those who have been touched by Ty and Terri Schenzel in Omaha, Fremont and around the world are mourning their loss.
 
The Hope Center for Kids will gather resources to provide counseling and support to the family friends, staff and children at The Hope Center for Kids in Omaha and Fremont.
 
We ask that the community allow us to work through our grief at this time.  We’ll be able to provide more information as we work through this terrible news."