AKRON, Pa. — A Lancaster County man will serve up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to causing a deadly crash while driving under the influence last year.
Derek Sensenig, 31, of Akron, pleaded guilty in August to homicide by vehicle while DUI, homicide by vehicle, three counts of DUI, and leaving his traffic lane in connection to a September 2022 crash that killed 65-year-old Jeffrey Myers on the 3900 block of Oregon Pike, according to the Lancaster County District Attorney's Office.
Sensenig was sentenced Wednesday by Lancaster County President Judge David Ashworth to a prison term of eight to 20 years.
According to prosecutors, Sensenig had a blood alcohol content of 0.187% -- over two times the legal limit -- and was under the influence of clonazepam while driving a Lincoln Navigator that left its lane and struck Myers' Toyota Camry, which was traveling south in the opposite lane, head-on.
First Assistant District Attorney Todd Brown prosecuted the case and read statements from the victim’s sister and wife. The victim’s brother-in-law also spoke at the proceeding. All the victim’s family members offered forgiveness to Sensenig, prosecutors said.
“The Commonwealth frankly can seldom impart greater input than what the family can offer,” Brown said. “We recognize the remorse (of the defendant), but the family’s loss is profound and remains unchanged.”
Brown mentioned Sensenig’s two prior DUI offenses, the latter of which occurred about a month before this fatal crash.
“A month later he’s doing it again in the most tragic of situations,” Brown said before asking Judge Ashworth for a just sentence that considered the defendant’s repetitive behavior and deterrence of such crimes in the future.
Sensenig pleaded guilty and was sentenced on his second DUI charge on July 27, 2022. This incident revealed a Clerk of Courts error that his DL-21 form wasn’t sent to PennDOT within the 10-day requirement, so Sensenig’s license had not yet been suspended at the time of the fatal crash.
“There’s a difference between those struggling with substance use disorder and those putting others in danger due to your substance use disorder,” Ashworth said to Sensenig before ordering sentence. “You chose to get behind the wheel of a weapon.”
Sensenig previously read a statement to the victim’s family during the proceeding expressing remorse for his actions.
Defense counsel asked for a sentence no greater than the mandatory minimum of 7 years.
