Milwaukee, WI – A 26-year-old Wisconsin man faces up to 10 years in prison after prosecutors say he struck and killed a retired 93-year-old priest with his pickup truck while distracted by Snapchat.
Man Pleads No Contest in Fatal Crash
Clay Schueffner, of St. Cloud, entered a no-contest plea on Monday to one count of homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle for the February 2024 crash that claimed the life of Father David H. Gau, a beloved priest and educator.
According to court records obtained by Law&Crime, Schueffner initially told investigators he was glancing at his GPS when his GMC Sierra truck hit Gau, who was crossing Wisconsin Avenue with his walker. However, data from his cellphone revealed a different story.
Snapchat Activity Seconds Before the Deadly Collision
Investigators say Snapchat records showed that Schueffner took and sent three selfie photos just seconds before the crash — at 1:39:53 p.m., 1:39:57 p.m., and 1:40:00 p.m. — and opened a Snapchat video at 1:40:18 p.m., moments before hitting Gau.
The criminal complaint noted that these timestamps matched surveillance footage showing Schueffner’s truck hitting Gau without braking or swerving to avoid him.
“Schueffner was looking at Snapchat on his phone and not looking at the road in front of him,” investigators wrote, adding that he never mentioned using the app in his police interview.
Victim Remembered as Respected Educator
Father David H. Gau, 93, was a retired priest who had dedicated decades to education and ministry in Milwaukee.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Gau taught Latin and French from 1964 to 1983 and served as rector and minister of Marquette University High School. In his later years, he lived at the St. Camillus residential community for seniors, where many knew him for his kindness and intellect.
Witnesses told police that Gau waited until traffic was clear before starting to cross the street. Surveillance video showed him attempting to hurry across as Schueffner’s truck approached — yet the truck continued at full speed, striking him and sending him airborne.
Driver’s Admission and Sentencing
After the crash, Schueffner, who works in construction, allegedly told police he was driving about 42 mph in a 35-mph zone and looked down for “about four seconds” before looking up to see Gau.
He claimed to have braked immediately and stayed with Gau until help arrived. However, witnesses heard Schueffner repeatedly say, “I was looking at my speedometer” and “I didn’t see him.”
Investigators later discovered that Schueffner — a former Winona State University football player — was sending selfies on Snapchat, not checking his GPS, contradicting his earlier statements.
Schueffner is scheduled to be sentenced on January 15, 2026.
Conclusion
This heartbreaking case underscores the dangers of distracted driving — particularly when using social media behind the wheel. A few seconds of distraction proved fatal for a man who had spent a lifetime serving others.
What do you think, Milwaukee? Should harsher penalties be imposed for drivers caught using phones behind the wheel? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
