Otter Tail County (trfnews.i234.me) — A New York Mills man has been sentenced in a deadly crash. The crash killed a recent high school graduate.
Izak Daryn Schermerhorn pleaded guilty to criminal vehicular homicide. The plea covered negligent driving while impaired. Court records list alcohol and THC use.
Guilty Plea
The case stems from a May 27, 2025, crash in Otter Tail County. The crash killed Blake Unger.
Schermerhorn admitted he was driving. He said he lost control and went into a ditch.
Sentence and Probation
Under a plea deal, the judge stayed the felony sentence. The court called it a stay of imposition.
Schermerhorn must serve 180 days in jail. The court allowed work release.
He will be on supervised probation for up to 10 years. He must follow all probation rules.
The court also ordered restitution. The amount will be set later.
What Court Records Say
Deputies at the scene reported a strong smell of alcohol. They also noted pink, glassy eyes.
Records say Schermerhorn told deputies he drank three or four Mike’s Hard Lemonades.
Documents list his blood alcohol concentration as 0.013. Records also mention THC.
He said he was sliding on the road to show off a loud exhaust. He then lost control.
He also said he had avoided alcohol for almost a year. He said he wanted to celebrate graduation.
Court Records
The sentencing was filed in the district court in Otter Tail County. Court orders set the jail term and probation.
Many court records are available through the Minnesota Judicial Branch. Learn more at mncourts.gov.
Why Impaired Driving Matters
Impaired driving can lead to fatal crashes. Safety officials warn it can happen fast.
For more on the risks, see the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Minnesota law on criminal vehicular homicide is in the state statutes. Read more at the Minnesota Revisor of Statutes.
Victim support resources are also available. See MADD for help.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.