INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A tragic car crash caused by a distracted driver killed Sarah Davis and left her daughter Rachel with a traumatic brain injury in October on I-465.

Sarah Davis, a beloved nurse at North Central High School, was killed instantly when the vehicle she was in was rear-ended by a distracted driver traveling at 70 mph. Her husband, Kelly Davis, and their daughter, Rachel, were also in the car. Rachel suffered severe injuries, requiring extensive surgery and a long recovery.

“Sarah was a super mommy,” said Kelly Davis, reflecting on his late wife. “She was a nurse, but we just kind of worked out that she’d work part-time so she could be a full-time mommy.”

Jon Noyes, a lawyer at Wilson Kehoe Winningham, emphasized the dangers of distracted driving. “When you even glance for a second when you’re driving at 70 mph, that can be all the time it takes to prevent an accident or to cause an accident.”

Kelly Davis recounted the harrowing details of the crash, explaining that they were stopped in traffic on I-465 when their car was struck from behind. “We were hit from behind at 70 mph. My wife died immediately,” he said.

Rachel Davis was taken to the hospital as a Jane Doe, and it was uncertain if she would survive. A surgeon performed an eight-hour surgery, placing 14 plates and pins in her back. “It really took her maybe two months until she could walk again,” Kelly Davis said.

Kelly Davis compared the addiction to cellphones to that of alcohol, noting how easily one can become a distracted driver.

“It’s designed to be addicting, and I’m addicted to it,” he said, drawing parallels to the gradual increase in risk-taking behavior. John Noyce highlighted the ongoing issue of distracted driving, stating, “It’s a problem that we are still dealing with every day and we’re going to continue to deal with it until something more severe is done about it.”

The Davis family’s tragedy underscores the severe consequences of distracted driving, a growing problem on the roads. Efforts by organizations like Wilson Kehoe Winningham aim to raise awareness and prevent further incidents.

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