STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. – A Detroit teen was found guilty of second-degree murder and several other charges in connection with a Sterling Heights crash that killed a woman and her unborn child.
Travion Twon Deangelo Smith, who was 16 at the time of the crash, was convicted of second-degree murder (life felony), gross negligence causing the death of a fetus (15-year felony), first-degree fleeing and eluding (15-year felony), and two counts of reckless driving causing serious injury (five-year felony) on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
On Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023, police tried to conduct a traffic stop on Smith while he was heading northbound on Van Dyke Avenue at 15 Mile Road.
“They observed this tan Equinox driving down 15 Mile in the right lane with its left turn signal on, not changing lanes or anything,” Sterling Heights police Lt. Mario Bastianelli said in 2023. “It was a common sign that someone may have been under the influence or something. We get behind the vehicle and run the license plate. The vehicle came back with no insurance, which is a misdemeanor. We ultimately tried to stop the vehicle.”
Police said the teen failed to stop and continued on Van Dyke Avenue, driving recklessly.
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The teen then ran a red light at 16 Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue, and hit a family that was heading eastbound on 16 Mile Road.
A 31-year-old woman and her unborn child died in the crash, and her husband and their 2-year-old were critically injured, officials said.
Smith was not injured in the crash.
“This tragedy could have been avoided if the driver simply would have pulled over for our officers,” Sterling Heights Police Chief Dale Dwojakowski said in a 2023 release. “The suspect made a decision to flee from officers and his actions devastated an entire family. When someone chooses to flee from police, they put innocent lives at risk and the lives of the police officers that are trying to do their job. Our hearts and thoughts go out to the Gumma family as they are left picking up the pieces after this horrible incident.”
The teen was charged as an adult, and in February 2024, he was bound over to stand trial.
This week, a jury found Smith guilty of all charges. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 26, 2025.