Otter Tail County teen sentenced in crash that killed friend

A 19-year-old New York Mills resident, Izak Schermerhorn, was sentenced Jan. 12 in Otter Tail County District Court for his role in a May 27, 2025 crash that killed his friend, Blake Unger. The sentencing followed a plea Schermerhorn entered late in 2025 resolving the charges against him.

Courtroom observers and coverage of the hearing describe a packed room and an emotional atmosphere as family, friends and community members gathered to hear the outcome. Victim impact was a central feature of the proceeding, with statements and community reactions underscoring the long ripple effects of the death. In a brief final statement during the hearing, Schermerhorn offered a parting message summarized as “Live like Blake.”

The case has become a focal point in local conversations about youth driving, community safety and how the justice system addresses fatal crashes in rural counties. Residents in New York Mills and surrounding towns have followed the case closely since the May crash. The plea and subsequent sentencing closed one chapter in the legal process, but the family and wider community are still processing the loss and its implications for daily life on Otter Tail County roads.

While sentencing details have resolved the immediate legal questions tied to the crash, the broader issues the case raises remain active concerns: how families are supported after traffic fatalities, what prevention and education efforts are in place for young drivers, and how transparent court actions are communicated to the public. Attendance at the hearing and the strong emotional response reflect a county where personal ties and shared roads make these events deeply felt.

For local officials and civic leaders, the episode highlights the importance of clear communication about court processes and the availability of victim support. For neighbors and drivers, it is a reminder of the stakes of every trip on county roads near lakes, small towns and farm country. The closure of the criminal case does not erase the community conversation about safety and accountability that followed the May crash.

The takeaway? Support those affected, stay informed about court actions in your county, and treat local roads with the caution they demand. Our two cents? Attend public hearings when they matter to you, hold officials accountable for transparency, and check in with one another — small-town loss reverberates through the whole community.