Justin Zoerb, Litchfield, Nebraska man charged after semi-truck he was driving collided into car killing mom & 8 year old son while on Snapchat.
A 22 year old semi-truck driver who killed a mother and her eight-year-old son after plowing into them is alleged to have been using Snapchat on his cellphone moments before impact in the fatal collision, Nebraska authorities said.
Justin Zoerb, of Litchfield, was arrested on Sunday and charged with two counts of motor vehicle homicide and one count of reckless driving after the crash in Clay County, in August of last year, according to the Clay County Sheriff’s Department.
The man’s arrest comes following an extensive investigation by the Nebraska State Patrol and Clay County Sheriff’s Office into the Aug. 9, 2023 crash that killed 30-year-old Nicole Pavelka and her 8-year-old son Ryker Schlichtman. Both mother and son died at the scene.
Mom and 8 year old son killed, three other children in car seriously injured
Zoerb was arrested for an unrelated warrant at the time of the crash and his phone was taken into possession by authorities.
A search warrant on his phone revealed that Zoerb was exchanging a series of Snapchat messages with another person leading up the fatal collision.
A court affidavit stated that the messages began at 4:02 pm and ended with Zoerb sending the final message at 4:07pm, KSNB reported. A 911 call regarding the crash came in about one minute later.
Three other children, aged 11, 10, and 9, were also involved in the crash and suffered serious injuries, KSNB reported.
A preliminary investigation last year found that Zoerb failed to slow down for stopped traffic on the Westbound Highway 6, with the semi-truck driver losing control and crossing a center line and plowing into the path of a Buick Enclave vehicle driven by the children’s mother.
Nebraska State Patrol said in the affidavit that on-scene evidence indicated that Pavelka took evasive actions by braking and steering to the right in an attempt to avoid a collision only to be hit on the driver side by the semi-truck.
Nebraska semi-truck driver makes bond the same day he is arrested
An analysis indicated Zoerb’s vehicle was traveling 70 mph in a posted 65 mph speed limit zone prior to the crash.
‘This arrest reflects the ongoing commitment of the Clay County Sheriff’s Office to ensure accountability and seek justice for the victims and their families,’ the Clay County Sheriff’s Department said in a release.
‘Our office extends its deepest condolences to those impacted by this tragedy and thanks the Sherman County Sheriff’s Office and Nebraska State Patrol for their assistance in this matter.’
Pavelka’s obituary described her as a ‘beloved fiancé, mother, daughter, sister, and friend’ who ‘accepted everyone into her heart and never judged a single person she crossed.’
Her fiancé and high school sweetheart, Daniel Schlichtman, is the father of their four children, Hayden, Laelynn, Jase, and Ryker.
Ryker’s obituary described him as a ‘spunky, fun-loving little boy.’
Zoerb was released from the Custer County Jail after posting bond on the same day he was arrested.
