Bel Air man convicted in teen’s death after phone data shows he played games while driving

A Bel Air man was convicted Friday of criminally negligent manslaughter in the death of a 16-year-old girl killed in a 2025 crash on Route 543, according to the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office.

What’s Happening: Judge Alex Allman found John Anthony Gaeta guilty after a bench trial — a trial decided by a judge, not a jury — in the Circuit Court for Harford County. Sentencing is scheduled for August 17.

What’s Important: Data from Gaeta’s vehicle and cell phone showed he did not brake or steer to avoid the crash in the 5 seconds before impact. His phone screen was unlocked and illuminated at the moment of the collision, according to prosecutors.

By the Numbers:

• Gaeta was traveling 53 mph and dropped to only 47 mph in the 5 seconds before impact.
• His vehicle covered 371 feet in those 5 seconds.
• Phone records showed he used three apps — Her A.I., Instagram, and Chess.com — from the time he left work until 38 seconds before the crash.

What Happened: September 18, 2025, 17-year-old Zachary Griffin was stopped on northbound Route 543, waiting to turn left onto Crescent Knoll Drive. His passenger was 16-year-old Blake Elliott. Gaeta’s vehicle struck Griffin’s car from behind and pushed it into the southbound lane, where a school bus hit it. Both teens were trapped inside the wreck.

Griffin was airlifted by Maryland State Police helicopter to Shock Trauma, where he spent 11 days with serious injuries. Elliott was taken by ambulance to the University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health, where she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

The Investigation: The Harford County Sheriff’s Office crash team determined there was no braking before impact. Investigators obtained search warrants for the airbag control module in Gaeta’s vehicle and his cell phone. Evidence from both devices was presented at trial.

What’s Next: Gaeta faces up to 3 years in prison and a $5,000 fine at sentencing. State’s Attorney Alison M. Healey said after the verdict that current law does not go far enough in cases where a life is lost to distracted driving.

“These cases can be extremely challenging to prosecute, and the current laws simply do not provide sufficient sanctions and are frankly not enough,” Healey said. “In addition, the standards are entirely too lenient for what defines a felony versus a misdemeanor.”