NY Man Pleads Guilty In Fatal Crash; 6 Amish Died

Published February 23, 2012 11:00PM (EST)

PENN YAN, N.Y. (AP) — A western New York man has pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and driving under the influence of drugs in a crash that killed six Amish farmers and injured eight others in July.

Yates County District Attorney Jason Cook says 42-year-old Steven Eldridge of Penn Yan pleaded guilty Wednesday to the most serious charges against him.

Cook said Thursday that Eldridge will be sentenced March 20 to 12 to 24 years in prison.

Eldridge admitted he had taken cocaine and prescription drugs before the crash in Benton, 45 miles southeast of Rochester. He passed a large farm tractor on a curve and collided with a van carrying Amish farmers from Steuben (stoo-BEHN') County, who were on a farm tour.

The van crashed into the tractor. It took rescuers hours to remove victims.


By Salon Staff

MORE FROM Salon Staff


Related Topics ------------------------------------------