INDIANAPOLIS -- A Michigan man accused of reckless homicide is behind bars in Marion County following a deadly crash on Indy's northwest side.
Troopers with the Indiana State Police were dispatched around 6:38 p.m. on Oct. 5, 2023, to I-465 northbound at mile marker 23.1 near W. 79th Street and 82nd Street in response to a serious crash involving 5 vehicles.
Court documents allege that Gavin Mosley, 24, was driving while distracted before crashing into the back of a vehicle on I-465 NB.
Sara Davis was killed and her daughter was seriously injured after they were rear-ended by the allegedly distracted driver.
"The moral to the story is be careful. Be responsible. Cars can be killing machines," said the victim's husband, Kelley Davis.
Kelley recalled slowing down for traffic on 465 with his wife in the car when the fatal crash took place.
ISP and the victim’s family hope the message the case sends to drivers everywhere is to pay attention behind the wheel.
"This is a case of flagrantly putting other people at risk," said Kelley.
According to court documents, troopers preliminarily determined that the Jeep Grand Cherokee, which was being operated by Mosley, lost control and crashed into the four other vehicles that had come to a temporary pause on the interstate in the pouring rain.
Mosley reportedly told troopers that he was in the area for work purposes and continued driving until he crossed over into Indiana. Troopers later found that Mosley was passing through Indiana after spending time in Illinois.
When he was questioned about the moments leading up to the crash, Mosley allegedly told troopers that he turned his head to check for an opening to merge into a new lane and suddenly rear-ended a vehicle in front of him.
Police claimed Mosley was using his phone up to the final moments before the crash occurred. Court documents stated that investigators reviewed data from Mosley’s cell phone that appeared to show a large amount of activity for the entire hour before the crash.
Court documents said detectives proceeded to apply for a warrant to search Mosley’s phone which allegedly revealed that he had sent 28 messages across three platforms within 27 minutes leading up to the crash. This included 21 text messages, 6 Snapchats and one message via Facebook Messenger.
Phone records allegedly show the suspect was watching YouTube and using Snapchat just moments before causing the fatal five-car pileup.
"Other than intent, this is essentially murder and anyone on 465 could have got killed that night," said Davis.
In 2020, Indiana passed the hands-free driving law, making it illegal to hold your phone while driving.
ISP reminds drivers that watching your phone and not the road can have deadly consequences.
"It's heartbreaking that people will selfishly put themselves and the use of their cell phones ahead of the safety of the drivers all around them," said ISP Sgt. John Perrine.
This week, more than a year after the crash on 465, Mosley was arrested in Michigan and returned to Indiana.
Reckless homicide carries a punishment of one to six years in prison. The Davis family wishes the state legislature would look at making that penalty more severe.
"For taking someone's life with such reckless behavior, it seems inadequate," said Kelley.
The suspect is due in court for his initial hearing next week. After that, he will be eligible for a $30,000 surety bond.