A 22-year-old semitruck driver in Nebraska has been arrested in connection with a fatal crash that claimed the lives of a mother and her son. The driver, Justin Zoerb, was allegedly Snapchatting moments before the tragic incident occurred. The crash resulted in the deaths of 30-year-old Nicole Pavelka and 8-year-old Ryker Schlichtman. Zoerb has been charged with two counts of motor vehicle homicide and one count of reckless driving.
The collision took place on August 9, 2023, at the intersection of Highway 6 and Road A. According to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the investigation into the crash was a collaborative effort between local authorities and the Nebraska State Patrol. The charges against Zoerb were filed after the investigation uncovered evidence suggesting that his distraction from Snapchat contributed to the fatal crash.
Details from the investigation reveal that Zoerb was driving a semitruck westbound on Highway 6, hauling animal feed. Several vehicles were stopped in front of him, waiting for a car to turn onto Road A. Instead of slowing down for the stopped traffic, Zoerb allegedly swerved into the eastbound lane and lost control of the truck. His vehicle collided head-on with a Buick Enclave driven by Pavelka, who had Schlichtman in the car along with three other children.
The crash led to severe injuries for the three other children in Pavelka’s car, although they survived and were hospitalized. In the aftermath, Zoerb was taken into custody for unrelated outstanding warrants. During his arrest, authorities seized his phone, and a forensic examination of the device revealed that Zoerb had been exchanging Snapchat messages for several minutes before the crash. The final message sent from Zoerb’s phone occurred at 4:07 p.m., just one minute before the first 911 call was made regarding the accident.
According to the report, Zoerb was driving at approximately 70 mph just before the crash, despite the speed limit on that stretch of Highway 6 being 65 mph. The evidence of his texting while driving, combined with his failure to slow down or stop for the stopped traffic, played a significant role in the charges against him.
The crash has left the families of Pavelka and Schlichtman grieving their loss, and the investigation has sparked renewed discussions about the dangers of distracted driving. Authorities emphasized their commitment to holding drivers accountable for their actions, especially when those actions result in the loss of innocent lives. The tragic incident serves as a somber reminder of the potential consequences of distracted driving, which continues to be a significant concern on the roads.
In the aftermath of the accident, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office expressed condolences to the families affected by the crash. The sheriff’s office also thanked the Nebraska State Patrol and the Sherman County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in the investigation. Zoerb was eventually released from jail after posting bond, but the legal proceedings in the case are ongoing, with the community and the families involved awaiting justice.
The case has brought attention to the growing problem of distracted driving, particularly the dangers posed by the use of smartphones behind the wheel. While law enforcement continues to address the issue through awareness campaigns and stricter laws, accidents like this one highlight the need for continued efforts to educate drivers about the risks of using mobile devices while driving. As the legal process unfolds, the families affected by the crash are left to cope with the devastating consequences of a distracted driving incident that took two innocent lives.
