Man sentenced to three years to serve in fatal Moretown crash

March 6, 2025  |  By Eric Blaisdell  |  Times Argus

BARRE — A truck driver has been sentenced to three years to serve for killing a Waitsfield woman in a crash in Moretown last year.

Satnam Singh, 25, pleaded guilty Feb. 28 to a felony count of gross negligent operation with death resulting. Singh was sentenced to 35 months and 29 days to 36 months to serve, with credit for time served. He had been held on $150,000 bail since his arraignment in April.

According to court records, Singh was driving a tractor-trailer hauling bags of mulch on Route 100 in April when he crashed into Rosetta “Zetty” Weber, 39, of Waitsfield, head on. Police said Weber, who was driving in the opposite direction as Singh, was declared dead at the scene.

A bus driver told investigators that Singh had been driving erratically before the crash, according to court records. Police said the witness reported Singh crossed the center line at least three times before the crash.

It was later reported that Singh fell asleep while driving, which caused the crash.

At the sentencing hearing, members of Weber’s family spoke about the amazing person she was and the loss they’ve suffered with her death.

Her mother said Weber lived by the motto, “My own self, at my very best, all the time.” She said Weber learned that mantra at age 12 and it became a guiding principle in her life.

“Zetty, as she became, grew into a strong, courageous, capable woman. She brought her interests and abilities and her intentionally-honed skills in leadership and outdoor education into choices that focused on passing on her love of life to her coworkers and the youth with whom she worked, and to her friends and loved ones,” the mother said.

She said Weber saw the good in everyone she encountered and believed that everyone is doing the best they can to be a good person.

“That is who she was. Loving, accepting, honoring everyone that came into her life,” the mother said.

Weber’s husband fought back tears as he read aloud from Weber’s journal as Weber described in her last entry the love she had for their daughter and how much she loved being a mother.

Family members said Weber was everyone’s best friend and was known as a person people could confide in and go to if they needed support.

Weber’s brother said as she grew up, Weber became one of the most remarkable people he’s ever known.

“Zetty was a collector of friends. Everyone who knew her was a dear part of her full-on life. She was a collector of heart-shaped rocks. She spread thoughtful, steadfast love everywhere,” the brother said, adding she spent her career lifting people up.

Deputy State’s Attorney Talon Wendel said the community lost a bright light in Weber’s death. Wendel said he’s had the pleasure of meeting with her family during the past year and learning more about her. He said, unfortunately, there’s no sentence the state can craft, no plea agreement it can reach that will bring her back.

He said the plea agreement with Singh was crafted with Weber’s family and has their support.

Singh had been living in Canada when the crash occurred. Singh’s attorney, Jordan Handy, said following this conviction, Singh will be deported back to Canada once his sentence is over. Handy said given some political changes in that country, it’s likely Singh will be deported from there, as well, and sent back to India.

Addressing Weber’s family, Handy said this case was a horrible experience and no one should have to go through something like this.

The defense attorney said Singh has no past criminal record and was willing to accept responsibility for his actions quickly in this case. Handy said Singh stopped an attempt to get his bail lowered so that he could be released because, he said, Singh wanted to give Weber’s family some comfort knowing he would be imprisoned while the case was pending and would not escape prosecution.

Handy noted Singh continued his education while in prison, received multiple certifications and maintains a job there.

Singh, speaking through an interpreter, said due to a mistake, someone’s daughter, sister, wife and mother was killed. He said he’s quite sad about the incident, and there’s nothing he can do to bring her back.

Singh said he’s quite sad that Weber won’t be able to see her daughter grow up. He asked for forgiveness from Weber’s family.

After taking a few minutes off the bench, Judge Michael Harris noted while Weber’s family spoke about their painful loss and how amazing Weber was, none of them expressed any animosity or ill will toward Singh. He said some other families who experienced such a loss have expressed malice against the offender, but that was not the case here. He said it wasn’t stated directly by the family, but he surmised that approach was the family instilling Weber’s spirit that still lives on in them. He said there is an element of acceptance and forgiveness in the family’s approach.

The judge choked up a bit when telling the family their capacity to show a degree of forgiveness, “is one of the most powerful things I’ve seen in the court.”