Joseph E. Byler, 28, killed, Alma Byler, 19, critically injured, airlifted to hospital, Irene Byler, 23, Ester Byler, injured, taken to hospital, after their buggy is struck by a SUV, driven by Douglas S. Learn, 42, on Tavern Road near Burton Township.

Modified Date: 
Sun, 09/28/2014 - 10:27am
Accident Date: 
Saturday, March 29, 2014

Driver in fatal buggy crash will be charged with aggravated vehicular homicide.

Authorities will file homicide charges against a Burton Towship man accused of crashing into an Amish buggy on Sunday, killing a 28-year-old man, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Authorities will file homicide charges against a Burton Township man accused of crashing into an Amish buggy on Sunday, killing a 28-year-old man, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Lt. Mark Neff said charges of aggravated vehicular homicide, drunken driving and driving with a suspended license will be filed against Douglas S. Learn, 42. Learn is accused of driving with more than the legal limit of alcohol in his system and slamming into the buggy about 9 p.m. Sunday on Tavern Road north of Ohio 700. Neff said his investigators and Chardon Municipal Court prosecutors met this morning and decided on the charges. Neff said more charges could be added when the case is presented to a Geauga County grand jury. Neff said at this point in the investigation, troopers do not believe speed was a factor in the crash. He said crash reconstructionists will analyze the evidence collected at the scene and will determine how fast Learn was driving at the time. Troopers on Sunday said Learn’s 2003 Ford Explorer SUV struck the buggy from behind. Joseph E. Byler, 28, was pronounced dead about a half hour later at University Hospitals Medical Center. Byler’s sister, Alma Byler, 19, was flown via emergency helicopter to MetroHealth Medical Center from Geauga Medical Center. Neff said on Monday she suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The Byler’s mother, Ester Byler, and another daughter, Irene Byler, 23, were treated at Geauga Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. The father, Eli Byler, also was in the buggy but refused medical treatment.  
Type: Car Accident
People Involved: 
Joseph E. Byler
Alma Byler
Ester Byler
Irene Byler
Eli Byler
Douglas S. Learn
Roadway: 
Tavern Road

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