Family members of Brandon Bixler, a 25-year-old who died in beaver county last year after being run over by a car on Toute 68 in Midland, filled an emotional courtroom on Friday.
Tears flowed as William Aeschbacher, 62, pleaded no contest to that crime, agreeing to spend one year in Beaver County Jail and two years on house arrest.
“It’s a horrible, horrible situation,” said Steve Colafella, Aeschbacher’s attorney. “He was a young man who had his whole life ahead of him and it was sad.”
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During victim impact statements, Bixler's father and mother testified. Patrcia Bixler began crying, telling the court her son would have turned 26 this Halloween.
"How anyone could hit a person, see them lying there on the road, not have any compassion whatsoever?” she said. "All of our family is having such a hard time dealing with the fact that my pride and joy is no longer here to share our lives and watch his nieces grow up.
"You left my son with no compassion. A huge piece of my heart is gone. Just a numb feeling."
Aeschbacher kept his head down and eyes closed during her testimony.
Colafella said his client regrets not notifying police about the incident.
“He is very remorseful. I think he was very shook up and scared,” Colafella said.
Aeschbacher is expected to start serving his jail sentence once he finishes his rehab from surgery. He is due to start his sentence Feb. 1 of next year.