19-year-old charged with reckless homicide, criminal recklessness after fatal Hancock County crash

HANCOCK COUNTY, Ind. — The Hancock County Prosecutor's Office has filed charges against a 19-year-old who was implicated in a fatal crash in March. According to Indiana's public court reporting system, Michael Ethan Davis has been charged with reckless homicide and criminal recklessness. Both of the charges Davis faces are Level 5 Felonies. Previous reporting on the crash indicates Hancock County Sheriff's deputies were called to the 700 block of West County Road 300 North around 10 p.m. on March 24 to investigate a crash. When deputies arrived at the scene, which was located near the intersection of County Roads 100 West and 300 North, they found 25-year-old Jaden Pelton of Fishers lying in the roadway. An affidavit for probable cause indicates Pelton was suffering from a severe leg injury when deputies found him. Despite medics' life-saving efforts, Pelton was pronounced dead at the scene. Deputies quickly identified the vehicle involved in the crash as a black Hyundai Sonata. Investigators determined the Sonata's driver was Davis, who was reportedly cooperative with deputies. HCSO officials believe Davis struck Pelton with the Sonata. An analysis of the Sonata's electronic data recorder revealed the vehicle was moving at nearly 86 mph five seconds before the crash. Half a second before the crash, the Sonata was travelling at about 84 mph. Court records indicate that Davis did not show any signs of intoxication while he spoke with deputies. A portable breath test demonstrated that Davis was likely not under the influence of alcohol during the crash. Davis also submitted to a blood draw. Tests conducted on his blood did not indicate that he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the crash. During their investigation, police determined that Davis had likely been driving recklessly before the crash. Police believe Davis was travelling westbound in the eastbound lane in the moments leading up to the crash. In an interview with police, Davis provided his account of the crash. He indicated that he entered the left lane of the roadway to pass a car in the right lane. Davis reportedly told police that, as he was passing the vehicle in the right lane, Pelton entered the road in front of him. Davis said he didn't have enough time to react to Pelton's presence in the road. Davis indicated that he hit Pelton head-on. He also told police he thought he was going about 70 mph at the time of the crash. In the probable cause affidavit they filed in Davis' case, deputies reported that the crash occurred in a 50 mph zone. Investigators also concluded that Davis struck Pelton in a no-passing area, which was marked by solid double-yellow lines. A warrant was issued for Davis' arrest on Friday. Hancock County Jail records indicate Davis was booked into jail around 10 p.m. Davis' first court date has not yet been entered in Indiana's public reporting system. The maximum penalty for a Level 5 Felony in Indiana like reckless homicide or criminal recklessness is a six-year prison sentence and a fine of up to $10,000.