MUDDY CREEK TWP — Vehicular homicide charges have been filed against the driver of an antique tractor who is accused of causing a rear-end collision on Route 19 last summer.

State police allege Zachary E. Sawyer, 33, of Butler was criminally negligent when he took to the road after dark in Muddy Creek Township on his 1969 Oliver farm tractor that had no working taillights

The tractor also was traveling 35 mph under the speed limit about 8:55 p.m. July 28 when Earl A. Tindall’s 2007 Jeep Liberty slammed into the back of it.

Tindall, 76, of Perry Township, Lawrence County, who apparently did not see the tractor until it was too late, died of injuries suffered in the wreck.

Police on Saturday charged Sawyer with homicide by vehicle, a felony, and involuntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment, both misdemeanors.

Investigators said the defendant’s tractor and the victim’s Jeep were both traveling south just north of Portersville. The tractor was going 20 mph on the road, which is a 55 mph zone, and it did not have hazard flashing lights on.

The Jeep left no skid marks to indicate Tindall tried to apply his brakes before the collision. Witnesses also told police that they did not hear any sound of a vehicle braking before the crash.

The collision forced the tractor off the road and into a utility pole. The Jeep also went off the road and stopped in a home’s yard.

Tindall was taken to Jameson Hospital in New Castle where he was pronounced dead, authorities said.

Sawyer was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital with what investigators described as moderate injuries.

Police noted that when they asked Sawyer if he had his lights on the tractor, documents said, he replied that he “did not believe it was dark enough to have them on.”

He told investigators that he had left a farm in Mercer County and was headed to Portersville.

During the crash reconstruction investigation, police inspected the tractor and found that its rear taillights were “not connected to a power source and were incapable of emitting light.”

The police complaint also noted the time of sunset that day — 8:39 p.m., which was at least 15 minutes before the deadly wreck.

Under state law, prosecutors must prove Sawyer acted with gross negligence or recklessness, the legal elements of vehicular homicide and involuntary manslaughter.

In addition to the criminal charges, police cited him for driving an unregistered vehicle, careless driving and reckless driving.

Sawyer could not be reached for comment.