An Avon man has been sentenced to 9 years, 8 months in prison for causing a fatal crash in August 2023 near Clear Lake.

Hunter Buckentine, 24, previously pleaded guilty to criminal vehicular homicide and criminal vehicular operation. He was driving west on U.S. Highway 10 at a high rate of speed when his car slammed into the back of another car carrying a driver and two passengers.

One passenger died and the driver and other passenger were injured, one of them with life-threatening injuries.

Buckentine had been at a Becker bar before the crash. Shortly before the crash he took out his cell phone and took a Snapchat of his vehicle’s speedometer showing 150 miles-per-hour, and typed “a new record.” A passenger in Buckentine’s vehicle told investigators that Buckentine created that Snapchat seconds before the crash.

Crash reconstruction estimated that Buckentine’s vehicle was traveling 133 mph when it rear-ended the other vehicle.

“This level of recklessness on our roads led to senseless injuries and loss of life,” said County Attorney Kathleen Heaney. “The only measure of justice that the system can give to the families and friends impacted is that of holding the defendant accountable for his deeds. With this accountability, it is our hope that the families and friends may begin their journey of healing.”