A Butler man charged with vehicular homicide after his farm tractor was rear-ended in 2015 on Route 19 in Muddy Creek Township was placed into the county Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program Monday.

Zachary E. Sawyer, 35, was placed into the program for two years on the charge of misdemeanor recklessly endangering another person by County Common Pleas Court Judge William Shaffer.

The ARD program allows charges to be suspended while the program is being completed. If a defendant successfully completes the program, charges may be dismissed and expunged.

The other charges, including felony homicide by vehicle, misdemeanor involuntary manslaughter, summary driving an unregistered vehicle, careless driving, reckless driving and no rear lights, will be dismissed.

Sawyer also was ordered to complete 100 hours of community service, some of which will be addressing the farming community about the dangers of operating a tractor on roadways. His probation can be terminated after about 12 to 18 months if that community service is completed and no violations are present.

Benjamin Simon, assistant district attorney, said evidentiary issues brought the case — which stems from a two-vehicle accident on July 28, 2015 — to this conclusion.

Sawyer was charged nearly a year after the crash. Police say he was driving his 1969 Oliver farm tractor at dusk on Route 19 southbound, from a farm in Stoneboro to Muddy Creek Township, when a Jeep Liberty driven by Earl A. Tindall, 76, of Perry Township, Lawrence County, rear-ended the tractor.

Police said the collision threw Sawyer from the tractor, which had no working taillights and was traveling about 20 mph in a 55 mph zone. The tractor was thrown into a utility pole along the road. The Jeep also went off the road and stopped in a yard on the 1600-block of Route 19.

Tindall died of injuries suffered in the crash, after being taken to Jameson Hospital in New Castle.

Simon said information suggesting Tindall was not wearing glasses, as he was required to do, at the time of the wreck, as well as the lighting conditions at the time were also factors in the case's resolution.

“This is turning more to what appears to be an unfortunate accident,” Simon said.

Sawyer's attorney, Michael Jewert, said this was a “fair resolution” and “satisfies all parties.”

No family was present in the courtroom Monday, and Simon told the court that the executor of Tindall's estate, a nephew, requested not to be contacted about further court proceedings.