Main, left to right: Ares Vawter and Iris Moore (Legacy Funeral Services). Inset: S’Doni Pettis (Hendricks County Prosecutor’s Office).
An Indiana man, aged 25, has been sentenced to over 70 years in prison for his involvement in a high-speed police chase that tragically ended with a collision. He ran a red light at nearly 100 mph, crashing into a family’s SUV, which burst into flames, resulting in the deaths of two young brothers.
S’Doni Pettis received a 74-year prison sentence for his role in the fatal incident that took the lives of 3-year-old Ares Vawter and 2-month-old Iris Moore. The crash occurred early last year and has left a lasting impact on the community.
The sentence, delivered by a Hendricks County Judge, represents the maximum penalty under Indiana law. It follows Pettis’ decision to plead guilty last month during a trial to multiple charges, including three counts of resisting law enforcement, two counts of causing catastrophic injury while operating a motor vehicle, one count of causing death while operating a motor vehicle, one count of conversion, and one count of auto theft.
“This crime was entirely predictable,” remarked Hendricks County Prosecutor Loren Delp in a statement post-sentencing. “The deaths of these two young children occurred because the defendant wanted to escape accountability for stealing a car. Now, he has a lifetime in prison to reflect on the lives he destroyed and the impact of his actions.”
Details from a Hendricks County Prosecutor’s Office news release reveal that the incident unfolded on the morning of February 5, 2025. Pettis, who was on probation for aggravated battery, stole a gray Honda Civic in Indianapolis and headed west on U.S. 40.
Soon after, an officer from the Avon Police Department attempted to stop the stolen vehicle. Pettis, however, “made the deliberate choice to flee” from the officer, leading to the tragic series of events that followed.
“As Pettis accelerated westbound on U.S. 40, he entered the intersection of Ronald Reagan Parkway at extreme speeds, ran a red light, and slammed into a Ford Explorer occupied by a family,” the release states. “The impact sent the Explorer airborne and immediately engulfed it in flames. Inside the burning vehicle were two young children.”
Iris, the infant, was pronounced dead at the scene. Ares suffered “catastrophic burns” and was transported to Riley’s Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis where he succumbed to his injuries and died. The young brothers were laid to rest together on March 12, 2025, according to NBC affiliate WTHR.
Several others were injured while trying to rescue the children, including multiple responding police officers and the boys’ father. A civilian bystander who attempted to cut away a car seat that had melted around one of the victims was also injured, prosecutors said.
Data obtained from Pettis’ car showed he was going about 90 mph at the moment of impact and “never applied his brakes,” according to prosecutors.
“The crimes committed by the defendant are unspeakable,” Delp said. “Two innocent children lost their lives because of violent choices and utterly indifferent to human life. There is no sentence that can restore what was taken from these families, but there is an obligation—on behalf of this community—to hold the offender fully accountable.”
