Man gets 8 years for wedding day crash

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UPPER SANDUSKY – The driver of a vehicle involved in a crash last year that took the life of a groom on his wedding day and a bridesmaid in his wedding was sentenced to eight years in prison in Wyandot County Common Pleas Court on Tuesday.

Timothy N. Tebbe, 35, of Nevada, apologized for his actions on Oct. 12, 2014, that resulted in the deaths of two of his friends and severely injured a third.

Andrew M. Bloomfield, 27, died just hours after saying his vows with Ruth D. Driskill Bloomfield, both from Galion, who was seriously injured in the crash occurred in Antrim Township in Wyandot County.

Elizabeth M. Shelton, 26, of Bucyrus was pronounced dead at the scene by Wyandot County Coroner Joseph Sberna.

The bride was flown by medical helicopter to St. Rita’s Hospital in Lima, the same hospital where her new husband was pronounced dead.

Tebbe was the driver of the 2014 Dodge Ram quad cab pickup that all four people were riding in as they were making their way back to the wedding reception after picking up a wedding gift at Tebbe’s residence.

According to Wyandot County Prosecutor Douglas Rowland, Tebbe had been drinking alcohol and traveling at a speed of over 100 miles per hour at the time of the crash.

Tebbe sobbed throughout the 45 minute long hearing.

“I am sorry for what I did and I wish I could take it back,” Tebbe said.

Tebbe said when he is released from prison, he wants to teach others about the dangers of drinking and driving and speeding.

Tebbe said he was glad that Shelton’s mother, Pearl Forker, met with him so he could talk with her face-to-face.

Forker was in the courtroom throughout the hearing.

“Beth was an inspiration to me and to all who knew her. She always had a smile on her face and found the good in others. She would probably forgive you, Tim, and I hope her family can too someday,” said Forker.

Forker said the impact of losing their mother has had a profound effect on Shelton’s two children, Halyn, 8, and 10-year-old Jeremiah.

“I wish you were there to feel their pain when they cry for their mother,” Forker said to Tebbe.

Ruth Bloomfield was also in the courtroom.

“Tim was a best friend of mine and Andy’s for two years and he is still one of my best friends. I have forgiven him, it was an accident,” Ruth Bloomfield said.

Aubry noted that Tebbe has had several negative contacts with law enforcement but maintains he does not have a substance abuse problem. Tebbe has a total of 12 speeding-related convictions and an operating a vehicle under the influence charge that was reduced to a reckless operation.

Aubry sentenced Tebbe to four years on each aggravated vehicular homicide charge, to run consecutively for a total of eight years in prison. He was given a 17-month sentence on one count of vehicular assault that he will serve concurrently to the others.

Aubry also suspended Tebbe driver’s license for 10 years, order him to pay fines and court costs, and informed Tebbe he may be placed on three years of post-release control after he serves his prison sentence.

Neither Ruth Bloomfield nor Forker are happy with Tebbe’s sentence of eight years.

“I think he got too much time for something that he did not mean to do,” Ruth Bloomfield said.

Forker said Tebbe should get more time for taking the lives of two beautiful people.

“My life and Beth’s children’s lives will never be the same because of his actions,” Forker said.

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Connect with Gasuras on Twitter @kimberlygasuras

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Incident killed Galion groom and Bucyrus bridesmaid

By Kimberly Gasuras

Galion Inquirer

 

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