An Arizona man has been sentenced to decades in prison after admitting responsibility for a devastating crash that killed five members of a family when he was 16 years old and driving at more than 100 mph while impaired by marijuana.
Bjorn Hartzell, now 20, was sentenced to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to five counts of second-degree murder and one count of felony endangerment, according to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.
The deadly collision occurred in November 2023 near 107th Avenue and Lone Cactus Drive in Peoria, Arizona.
Family Was Returning Home From Thanksgiving Gathering
According to prosecutors, the victims had just left a Thanksgiving celebration and were traveling home in a minivan when the crash happened.
The vehicle carried two adults and four children.
The adults were identified as Elizabeth Simpson and her fiancé, Jace Hochstetler.
Authorities said the couple had recently become engaged, with Hochstetler proposing to Simpson just weeks before the fatal crash.
A GoFundMe created after the tragedy described the family as simply enjoying an evening together after celebrating the holiday.
Jeep Traveling More Than 110 MPH
Investigators determined that Hartzell was driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee at an extremely high rate of speed before the collision.
According to collision reconstruction evidence, the Jeep was traveling between 112 and 115 mph in a zone where the posted speed limit was 40 mph.
Prosecutors said Simpson and Hochstetler were traveling eastbound and making a left turn when Hartzell’s Jeep crashed into their minivan.
The impact destroyed the family’s vehicle.
Five Family Members Lost Their Lives
Emergency responders pronounced Elizabeth Simpson and Jace Hochstetler dead at the scene.
Three children later died after being transported to a local hospital:
- Simpson’s 14-year-old child
- Simpson’s 10-year-old child
- Hochstetler’s 7-year-old daughter
According to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, one child died shortly after arriving at the hospital, while the other two later succumbed to their injuries.
Infant Was the Only Survivor
The only survivor of the crash was Simpson’s 7-month-old son.
Authorities have not released additional details about the infant’s injuries or recovery.
Investigation Found Marijuana Impairment
Prosecutors said investigators found evidence that Hartzell was impaired by marijuana at the time of the crash.
According to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office:
- A Drug Recognition Expert observed multiple signs of cannabis impairment.
- Hartzell admitted that he had smoked marijuana before driving.
- A court-authorized blood test detected tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive compound in marijuana, in his bloodstream.
Investigators concluded that both excessive speed and impairment contributed to the fatal collision.
Guilty Plea and Sentence
Hartzell later pleaded guilty to:
- Five counts of second-degree murder
- One count of felony endangerment
An Arizona judge sentenced him to 30 years in state prison.
Prosecutor Highlights Consequences of Reckless Driving
Following the sentencing, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said the case illustrates the devastating consequences of reckless and impaired driving.
She noted that five lives were lost because of a series of dangerous decisions made behind the wheel.
Mitchell added that while no prison sentence can undo the family’s loss, prosecutors remain committed to holding dangerous drivers accountable and pursuing justice for victims.
Lasting Impact on Family
According to the family’s GoFundMe page, Elizabeth Simpson, Jace Hochstetler, and the children were all wearing seat belts and were simply returning home after spending Thanksgiving together with loved ones.
What began as a routine drive home from a family celebration ended in one of the area’s most tragic traffic crashes, leaving only a 7-month-old infant alive.
Hartzell’s convictions follow his guilty plea, bringing the criminal case to a close. The sentencing marks the final outcome in a tragedy that claimed the lives of five members of one family and forever changed the lives of those they left behind.
