Man sentenced for role in Oakland County crash that killed 13-year-old girl, injured 5 others

WALLED LAKE, Michigan. – A man accused of filming a police chase from a fleeing car before the driver caused a four-car crash that killed a 13-year-old girl and injured five others has learned his sentence.

Accident details

The accident occurred on the night of March 22, 2023, at the intersection of West Maple and Decker roads in Walled Lake.

Authorities said a 15-year-old was driving a Jeep Gladiator and fleeing police at speeds up to 98 mph. He sped through several red lights before crashing into two other vehicles at the intersection of West Maple and Decker roads.

That crash caused another collision, so a total of four vehicles were involved in the crash, police said.

Gavin Anthony Kassab, who was 19 at the time, was a passenger in the Jeep, officials said. Kassab was recording video of the police chase before the crash.

Both the driver and Kassab fled the scene of the crash on foot, leaving the Jeep behind, officials said.

1 killed, others injured

Erica Carrothers was driving one of the other vehicles involved in the crash. She was driving her daughters, 13 and 10, home from skating practice when their car was struck by the Jeep.

Her 13-year-old daughter, Piper Carrothers, was taken to a nearby hospital, where she died from her injuries.

The 10-year-old girl was ejected from the vehicle, leaving her with serious head and neck injuries.

Erica Carrothers was also seriously injured.

Three other people were injured in the crash and taken to a nearby hospital. All three were released later that night.

Charges following an accident

Kassab, 20, of Commerce Township, was charged in May 2023 with first-degree fleeing and eluding police causing death, involuntary manslaughter, reckless driving causing death and two counts of The charge of second-degree fleeing and eluding police.

The driver was charged with first-degree fleeing and eluding police causing death, failure to stop at the scene of an accident causing bodily injury, involuntary manslaughter, reckless driving causing death, death and two counts of second-degree fleeing and eluding police.

Kassab pleaded no contest on April 8, 2024, meaning he did not admit guilt, but agreed not to contest the charges.

Other legal issues

Shortly after being charged in connection with the accident, Kassab was charged with 10 felonies related to sexual acts with a child.

Authorities said they searched Kassab's home days before the accident and seized his phones and computers.

Prosecutors said Kassab convinced a child to send him a video of a sex act. Kassab then shared that video, officials said.

These additional charges convinced a judge to increase Kassab's bail to a total of $1.5 million. The judge said Kassab was “absolutely, completely out of control” and “a danger to society.”

Parents of a 13-year-old child speak

On Tuesday, June 4, 2024, Kassab returned to court for sentencing regarding the accident charges. Piper Carrothers' parents spoke before the sentence was announced.

Her father, William Carrothers, said the family still struggled with not having Piper at their table.

He also spoke about the day of the accident.

“That evening, Erica called me, frantically explaining that they had been hit while crossing the intersection of Decker and Maple roads,” he said. “I assumed it was an accident, but at the time I had no idea how horrible things were going to be.”

He said he went to the hospital where his daughter was taken, while his injured wife and youngest daughter went to another hospital.

“Broken femur, broken pelvis, among other massive internal injuries, too numerous and horrific to list,” William Carrothers said of Piper's condition.

William Carrothers also described his 10-year-old daughter's serious injuries and showed a photo of her in hospital. He said he feared losing his two daughters that day.

“A police officer who attended the scene of the accident at subsequent hearings described Cora's condition as 'horrible', with blood covering her face, body and the street as she screamed pain after the accident,” he said. “Piper, trapped in the vehicle, was unable to move.”

William Carrothers said he wanted everyone in court to know that at the time of the accident, Kassab was out on bail for pending assault charges and under investigation for computer crimes.

“Yet he was still out there that night, continuing his very risky and reckless behavior, allowing an unlicensed person to drive and causing chaos in our city,” he said.

“As if leaving my family to die in that intersection wasn't shocking enough, showing how little care and compassion he has for others, he and his family went on vacation to Florida just three days after killed Piper.

“He may have thought he was fast enough to escape his murder that night, but he was wrong.”

William Carrothers requested that Kassab be sentenced to at least 50 years in prison and that all sentences in other cases be imposed consecutively, not concurrently.

“To Gavin, if you choose to speak, please save your apology for someone else,” he said. “Your no contest plea means nothing to me other than to confirm that you refuse even now to accept responsibility for what you did that night. No one who did what you did that night deserves anything less than the maximum punishment I can ask from this court, regarding your own reckless act, and I am sure that leaving evidence behind is your greatest regret.

Erica Carrothers then spoke. She told the story on March 22, 2023, saying she and her daughters followed their normal route to their home in Commerce Township.

“Unbeknownst to us, Gavin and his friend were out for a joyride in a rented Jeep Gladiator,” she said. “After the police tried to arrest them, they fled. The end result was that my daughter Piper was killed and my daughter Cora and I were seriously injured.

She said Kassab showed “complete disregard for the law and the safety of those around him.”

Erica Carrothers listed actions such as letting an unlicensed driver get behind the wheel, running from police, speeding, running a red light and fleeing the scene of the accident.

She also described everything her family went through while Kassab went on vacation with his family and went 50 days without being charged.

“He could have chosen not to go out that evening, given that he was out on bail and his home had just been searched in connection with his other case,” Erica Carrothers said. “It took the death of my daughter Piper and him in prison for the chain of criminal actions to take hold.”

She said Kassab should be given the maximum sentence to ensure something like this doesn't happen again.

Kassab's lawyer said there was no evidence his client encouraged the driver to pass a red light. He also said the Jeep was going 72 mph, not 98 mph.

Gavin Kassab speaks

After listening to victim impact statements from both of Carrother's parents and a family friend, Kassab stood up and gave his own statement.

“First and foremost, I apologize to the Carrothers family, all the victims and the community for their terrible loss and the harm I have caused. I send my most sincere condolences and sympathies to the families.

“Every day I think of Piper Carrothers, Piper and her family. Every day I pray for Piper's soul and the well-being of the Carrothers family.

“I accept responsibility for my actions. I am truly remorseful for my conduct and behavior. While I was incarcerated, I reconnected with God. I meet with the priest, attend services, read the Bible, and pray the rosary every day.

“I pray that the Carrothers family will soften their hearts so that they can forgive me for my sins. I pray that God forgives me. I promise and commit upon my return to the community, I will be a law-abiding citizen and contribute positively to the community.

“Once again, I sincerely apologize to the Carrothers family, all the victims and the community. Thank you, Your Honor, for allowing me to speak.

The judge reads the sentence

Kassab's defense disputed that he was a decision-maker in the crash, saying it was the 15-year-old who was driving the Jeep.

Prosecutors argued the 15-year-old could be heard in the recorded video asking Kassab what they should do as they approached the intersection, and Kassab told him “go, go, go” . Kassab says he was the one who asked what they should do and the driver said “go, go, go.”

Justice Victoria Valentine said the court believed Kassab was a decision-maker, especially as the only adult in the Jeep.

After listing the Carrother parents' and Kassab's statements, Valentine spoke directly to Kassab.

“The harm you have done to the community is unfathomable,” Valentine said. “You've never had so many opportunities to retreat and tell the driver to retreat. After the accident I watched the video, you can hear people screaming and crying in pain while you ran and took resources from people who could have helped the victims because they were chasing you. This has been added to all the other instances you've had before that led to this behavior.

Here's how Valentine convicted Kassab of the charges:

• Homicide – motor vehicle manslaughter: 8 to 15 years in prison, with 353 days credit.

• Fleeing a police officer in the first degree: 8 to 15 years in prison, with 353 days credited.

• Reckless driving causing death: 8 to 15 years in prison, with 353 days credited.

• Fleeing a police officer in the second degree: 5 to 10 years in prison, with 353 days credited.

• Fleeing a police officer in the second degree: 5 to 10 years in prison, with 353 days credited.

You can watch the full sentence in the video below.