Michigan Woman Gets 6 Years in Prison for DUI Crash That Killed 8-Year-Old Amish Girl
In March of last year, eight-year-old Alma Yoder was thrown from the buggy she was riding in, after it was rear-ended about a mile from her Van Buren County, Michigan home. Alma suffered severe injuries, and later died at hospital. Her 12-year-old brother Joey was critically injured but survived.
The driver of the vehicle which hit the buggy, 31-year-old Sheila Kershner, was intoxicated at the time. Now she’s been given her sentence, after entering no contest pleas last month. More from WOOD TV:
Kershner was sentenced to at least six years in prison on charges of operating while intoxicated causing death. She was also sentenced two to five years for an additional charge of operating while intoxicated causing injury that will be served concurrently.
She had originally faced eight charges. The rest were dismissed as part of the plea arrangement. Note: The post title uses “DUI” for clarity, though the Michigan charge is technically “OWI” — operating while intoxicated.
The two children had been on their way to school when the crash happened. Court officials later confirmed Kershner was under the influence of several controlled prescription substances at the time. Adding another layer to the incident, her own young children were also in the vehicle with her at the time of the wreck.
At sentencing, a judge addressed Kershner directly on what troopers found when they arrived:
“When troopers got there, one of the children (from the buggy) was on the hood of the intoxicated driver’s vehicle, and I don’t know if your children saw that, but I can’t imagine how traumatic that was for them.”
Words From An Amish Friend
An Amish member of the community and friend of the family named Rudy Miller spoke to WOOD TV8 at the time of the tragedy.
Miller had this to say:
“I’m sure they’re totally…I mean, they forgive her, they know it’s the hand of God. So I’m sure they absolutely don’t hold anything against her for doing that. Of course it’s sad that her daughter is no longer here but, we just feel it was the hand of God, so.”
And also:
“She was a sweet little girl, always had a smile on her face. She actually, almost every day went by my house going to school, so, I won’t be seeing that anymore.”
It never ceases to amaze, the capacity for forgiveness demonstrated regularly by Amish people. Over a year has passed since the Yoders lost their daughter Alma. I hope they have been able to find some healing in that time.
Kershner
At least she got more time than the MN sisters. She should serve every single day. Just my opinion . . .