*Sheila Kershner of Mattawan will spend at least the next six years behind bars after pleading no contest to driving while intoxicated causing death, according to a May 27 report from WKZO*.

Kershner rear-ended a horse-drawn Amish buggy on the morning of March 26, 2025, killing Alma Yoder, age 8, and critically injuring her 12-year-old brother, Joey, in Lawrence Township, Van Buren County.

The Crash

The collision happened around 8 a.m. near County Road 215 and 60th Avenue, according to WOOD TV. The two children were approximately one mile from their home and on their way to school when the crash occurred.

A witness called 911. Alma Yoder was rushed to the hospital, where she later died from her injuries. Joey survived.

Kershner was 31 at the time of the crash. Court officials confirmed she was under the influence of several controlled prescription substances, according to both WKZO and Amish America.

Kershner's own young children were in the vehicle with her at the time of the wreck, according to WOOD TV.

The Sentence

Kershner entered no contest pleas in April, according to WOOD TV. She was sentenced to at least six years in prison on the charge of operating while intoxicated causing death.

She also received a two to five year sentence for operating while intoxicated causing injury. That sentence will run concurrently with the six-year term, according to WOOD TV.

Kershner was originally facing eight charges. Six additional charges were dismissed as part of the plea agreement, according to WKZO.

The Courtroom

During a 2025 court appearance, a judge addressed Kershner directly about the scene troopers found when they arrived.

"When troopers got there, one of the children (from the buggy) was on the hood of the intoxicated driver's vehicle, and I don't know if your children saw that, but I can't imagine how traumatic that was for them."

The judge's comments were reported by WOOD TV.

Community Response

An Amish neighbor and friend of the Yoder family, Rudy Miller, spoke to WOOD TV at the time of the tragedy.

"I'm sure they're totally...I mean, they forgive her, they know it's the hand of God. So I'm sure they absolutely don't hold anything against her for doing that. Of course it's sad that her daughter is no longer here but, we just feel it was the hand of God, so."

Miller also shared his personal connection to Alma Yoder.

"She was a sweet little girl, always had a smile on her face. She actually, almost every day went by my house going to school, so, I won't be seeing that anymore."

The sentencing comes more than a year after the crash that took Alma Yoder's life.