ELKHART – Sentence has been given to a man who was involved in a fatal hit and run two years ago.

Elkhart County Circuit Court officials say 34 year old Ronnie Hapner of Elkhart was sentenced to 24 years in prison Thursday after he plead guilty in August to a charge of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death while driving intoxicated and a charge of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious bodily injury while driving intoxicated.

On June 4, 2021 Hapner was driving his pickup and struck 18 year old Blaine Fisher and 18 year old McKade Nielsen on Greenleaf Boulevard in Elkhart.

Fisher was riding a bicycle and pronounced dead at the scene. Nielsen was on a skateboard at the time of the incident and spent several weeks in the hospital.

Hapner fled the scene, but was arrested a few days later after police received a tip on his location.

Hapner was sentenced to serve 12 years on each of the charges.