Nebraska Surgeon Sentenced to 10–14 Years for Street Racing Crash That Killed Young Woman

Victor Nwoko
1 minute ago
2 min read

Dr Mark Carlson, 62, has been sentenced to years in prison after he smashed his car into that of a 22-year-old woman, killing her on impact

A prominent Nebraska surgeon has been sentenced to 10 to 14 years in prison after a deadly street-racing crash that killed 22-year-old Anna Bosma during a Labor Day weekend in 2023.

Dr. Mark Carlson, 63, was found guilty of manslaughter after he crashed his Mercedes head-on into Bosma’s vehicle at over 100 mph while engaged in an illegal race. Bosma died instantly in the impact, while her boyfriend, who was in the passenger seat, survived the collision. The young couple from South Dakota had been visiting Omaha, Nebraska, for a getaway.

Anna Bosma, from South Dakota, had been enjoying a Labor Day getaway in Nebraska

Carlson, formerly the director of the Center for Advanced Surgical Technology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, had an esteemed career and was married to Sarah Gloden, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at Creighton University School of Law. The two have since separated following the fatal crash, with Gloden remaining in their $880,000 Omaha mansion alongside their sons.

During Thursday’s sentencing, Carlson issued a delayed apology to Bosma’s family, saying: “I am sorry for the lateness of this apology, which comes 21 months after Anna’s passing. I would give anything to change the events of Sept. 1, 2023.”

Carlson claimed that he had fainted before the crash and the car's lane-assist technology kept him on the road while speeding. But an engineer testified the lane-assist was turned off

Carlson's defense team claimed he fainted at the wheel and argued that lane-assist technology had kept his car in motion. However, an engineering expert testified that the lane-assist system had been turned off at the time of the crash.

The other driver involved in the race, Cameron Robinson, served as a witness for the prosecution. He was charged with willful reckless driving and sentenced to six months’ probation.

Carlson, right, was the director of the Center for Advanced Surgical Technology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He was married to Sarah Gloden, left, who is the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and the Creighton University School of Law

Carlson’s conviction carried a potential 20-year sentence, but he will be eligible for parole in five years. During the emotional sentencing hearing, Bosma’s family filled the courtroom wearing shirts in honor of her life. Her mother, Abigail, spoke about the pain of losing her daughter and the difficulty of enduring the trial.

“The first two weeks after Anna was killed was the worst of my life,” she said. “The week and a half of the trial was a very close second.” Her father, Justin, reacted to Carlson’s courtroom apology by saying, “It was nice to hear, but it came kind of late at basically a time when it impacted his sentencing.”

Carlson’s actions have left a permanent scar on both families, raising questions about reckless behavior, accountability, and the irreversible consequences of a single decision.