NEBRASKA CITY – A man accused of the accidental death of a six-year-old boy near the Nebraska City Farmers Market July 17 has entered no contest pleas in Otoe County court.

A Nebraska City police affidavit says 59-year-old Vernon Christiansen was transported to CHI Health St. Mary’s following the accident, where he agreed to a blood draw. The affidavit says an open alcohol container was found within reach of the driver and other unopened containers were cold to the touch.

Otoe County Attorney Jennifer Panko-Rahe said there is no evidence that Christiansen was impaired at the time of the accident. She said the blood draw at the hospital did not show that he was above the legal limit for alcohol.

At the accident scene, Police Chief Ben Murry said Christiansen was taken to the hospital for some type of medical episode, but he did not say whether that condition was prior to or after the accident.

The misdemeanor charge of motor vehicle homicide alleges unintentional cause of death while in violation of law because of an open alcohol container and other infractions.

The affidavit says a radar detector was mounted in the front windshield below the ASI line for vision obstruction and rear tire tread was below safety wear marks.

Bond was set at $50,000 and sentencing scheduled for Sept. 8.

The possible maximum penalty for Class 1 misdemeanor is a year in jail and a $1,000 fine. There is no mandatory minimum.