Inset: Justin Zoerb (Adams County Jail). Background: The semitruck Zoerb was driving when he allegedly struck and killed Nicole Pavelka and Ryker Schlichtman (KSNB).
A 22-year-old semitruck driver in Nebraska has been arrested for allegedly causing a car accident that left a mother and child dead while he was exchanging Snapchat messages on his cellphone.
Justin Zoerb was taken into custody on Sunday and charged with two counts of motor vehicle homicide and one count of reckless driving in the deaths of 30-year-old Nicole Pavelka and 8-year-old Ryker Schlichtman, authorities announced.
According to a news release from the Clay County, Nebraska Sheriff’s Office, the tragic collision occurred on Aug. 9, 2023, at Highway 6 and Road A. The sheriff’s office said the charges against Zoerb resulted from an investigation conducted by the investigators in cooperation with the Nebraska State Patrol.
“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,” Sheriff Jeff Franklin said in a statement. “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.”
A probable cause affidavit obtained by York, Nebraska, NBC affiliate KSNB provided additional details about the collision.
According to the report, Zoerb was hauling animal feed in a westbound semi on Highway 6. Several other vehicles ahead of Zoerb were reportedly stopped on the highway as they waited for a car to make a turn from the highway onto Road A. Zoerb allegedly failed to slow down while approaching the stopped vehicles and eventually swerved into the eastbound lane of the highway and lost control of his truck resulting in a head-on collision with a Buick Enclave that was being driven by Pavelka with Schlichtman as one of her passengers.
Three other children were also reportedly in the car, and all of them were seriously injured and hospitalized but survived.
After arriving on the scene, authorities took Zoerb into custody on unrelated outstanding warrants. Following his arrest, police seized Zoerb’s phone, the report states.
A forensic search of the phone allegedly showed that Zoerb had been exchanging messages with someone on Snapchat for several minutes before the crash. The final message from Zoerb’s phone was sent at 4:07 p.m., which authorities said was about one minute before the first 911 call about the crash.
The News Tribune reported that Zoerb is believed to have been traveling at about 70 mph before the crash. The speed limit on that stretch of Highway 6 is 65 mph.
Zoerb was released from the Custer County Jail after posting bond on the same day he was arrested.
