Driver Charged With Homicide…18 Months After Crash That Killed Young Amish Man
A 21-year-old New York Amish man named Abraham Shetler lost his life in December 2023, when the buggy he was traveling in was struck by a pickup truck. A 19-year-old riding with him faced life-threatening injuries, but survived.
Now, the driver who struck the buggy has been arrested – and will face charges. From localsyr.com:
TOWN OF OSWEGATHCHIE, N.Y. (WWTI) – A 34-year-old Ogdensburg man has been arrested in connection to alleged 2023 crash involving an Amish buggy that killed one person and seriously hurt another.
According to New York State Police, they arrested Clark Zanker on Monday, July 7, on counts of criminally negligent homicide and third-degree assault.
Authorities were called on December 11, 2023 to State Route 812 in the town of Oswegatchie for a crash involving a horse-drawn Amish buggy and a pickup truck.
NYSP officials said that 21-year-old Abraham Shetler of Heuvelton was declared dead at the scene. A 19-year-old passenger, Joseph Yoder of Lisbon, was taken to Claxton Hepburn Medical Center and later transported to SUNY Upstate Medical Center for life-threatening injuries.
Criminally negligent homicide carries a maximum sentence of four years in New York state. This New York attorneys’ website explains that:
Criminally negligent homicide differs from intentional forms of homicide, such as murder or manslaughter, in that it does not involve an intent to cause harm. Instead, it focuses on negligent behavior that leads to fatal consequences.
According to police, their investigation showed that Zanker failed to observe the buggy, which was traveling in the same lane.
As to the gap in time between the accident and arrest, another source notes that “New York State Police said troopers were investigating Zanker since the crash. A reason for the delay in the arrest was not released.”
Abraham Shetler was a member of the Heuvelton community in St. Lawrence County, one of the largest Swartzentruber Amish settlements in the country.
Man Charged In Fatal Crash.
Four years?? What a GIFT!! If you ask me, he should have to serve one year for each year Mr. Shetler lived on this Earth. Your readers will have to forgive me, but I have absolutely zero tolerance for this sort of criminal behavior. May Zanker rot in jail.
Ephesians 4:32
Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Please don’t willingly give the enemy your soul.