By Liz Adkins
InkFreeNews

Cayden William Collins

WARSAW — A man will serve 4 1/2 years in prison after leaving the scene of a fatal vehicle accident on US 30 in Warsaw in March 2023.

Cayden William Collins, 21, Andrews, was charged with failure to remain at the scene of an accident resulting in death, a level 4 felony.

Collins plead guilty and was sentenced in Kosciusko Superior Court Three on Tuesday, May 28.

Kosciusko Superior Court Three Judge Chad Miner sentenced Collins to seven years in the Indiana Department of Correction, with 4 1/2 years executed and 2 1/2 years suspended on formal probation. His driving privileges were suspended for five years.

Collins must also pay $3,393.76 in restitution to the family of Connor M. Small, 24, Huntington; and $1,600.46 to Zoie B. Lavine. Small passed away in the vehicle accident and Lavine was a passenger in the vehicle Small was in.

At sentencing, over a dozen of Small’s family members and friends were in attendance, with several wearing T-shirts stating “In Memory of Connor M. Small” and “Justice for Connor.”

Lavine and Small’s mother, Nicole, provided victim impact statements in court, and two letters from Small’s relatives were also submitted as evidence.

Lavine described the day of the accident as “traumatizing,” recalling the screams of Austin Martin, who was driving the vehicle Small was in. She said she and Martin suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and survivors’ guilt as a result of the accident. Lavine also said her children lost their “bonus uncle” through Small’s passing.

“Losing Connor made a huge impact on my life,” said Lavine. “I will never know why Cayden did what he did and I don’t think I could ever forgive him. He doesn’t care about anyone on the road but himself.”

Nicole also mentioned Martin’s trauma and how the loss of her son “has devastated so many lives.”

“Connor was my rock and my heart is so empty without him,” said Nicole. “I will never understand why (Cayden) left if he was truly scared. Connor was always there for everyone and touched so many in great ways. There’s so much I will never see…I feel as if I failed as a mother because I couldn’t protect Connor from this.”

Nicole told Cayden that she heart wished he would never see daylight again and hoped he would learn from his mistakes.

Olivia Jeffrey, Collins’ mother; and Roxie Jeffrey, Collins’ grandmother, provided testimony on Collins, describing him as a kind person and hard worker. They both said the entirety of Huntington County, where the family resides, “hates his guts” and blames Collins for the accident.

In her testimony, Olivia said Collins had made comments about wishing he was the one who passed away in the accident. She told the court the accident had impacted Collins drastically and affected his mental health.

Roxie said Collins helped her out a lot at her farm and noted his employer described him as a good worker. She said Collins “did wrong” by leaving the scene of the accident, but noted he was not at fault for the accident itself.

Deputy Prosecutor Jennifer Naue asked Miner to consider Collins’ juvenile record and also noted his violation of bond conditions in March 2024 after he tested positive for fentanyl. She showed no objection to Collins’ participation in the Kosciusko County Work Release Program, but objected to community corrections.

Defense Attorney Isaiah Vanderpool said Collins was remorseful and asked the court to note that this was not a case regarding causation. He also noted the importance of Collins entering rehabilitative programs.

“I’m sorry for not staying after the accident,” said Collins. “I think about that night a lot…I left because I was scared.”

Affidavit of Probable Cause

Around 5 a.m. March 18, 2023, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a two-vehicle accident on East US 30, east of East CR 450S, Warsaw.

Martin told deputies he was driving a maroon 2009 Honda Pilot eastbound in the left travel lane of US 30 when he passed a gray 2000 Oldsmobile Alero in the right lane. As Martin passed the Alero, a sideswipe collision occurred, as the Alero’s driver allegedly failed to stay in their lane of travel. Collins, who was driving the Alero, left the scene.

According to a KCSO accident report, this collision caused Martin’s vehicle to leave the roadway and overturn multiple times before coming to a rest on its passenger’s side, near a utility pole. Martin had three passengers in his vehicle at the time of the accident, including Small, Lavine, and Cassandra M. Moehring.

Both Lavine and Moehring had to be extricated from the Pilot. Lavine complained of hip pain and Moehring complained of leg pain. Small was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. Martin complained of neck pain.

During the investigation of the accident, Huntington County Sheriff’s Department officers found the Alero in Huntington County. When they pulled the Alero over, it was being driven by Jayla L. Kelsey. At the traffic stop, Kelsey and the vehicle’s passengers, identified as Collins and Gage Overholser, would not speak to officers about the accident.

Damage to the Alero was consistent with being involved in the Kosciusko County accident.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, in an interview with a KCSO lieutenant, Overholser said he, Kelsey, and Collins were coming from a gas station in North Manchester when they were pulled over. As the interview progressed, Overholser’s story changed. He said Moehring was his girlfriend and that he told Collins to pass Martin’s vehicle. He said they switched drivers while in North Manchester and that Collins was wrong for not stopping after the accident, but that he was freaking out.

Officers learned Martin had picked up Moehring after she stopped spending time with Collins’ group following an argument with Overholser.

Collins and Overholser both said Martin’s vehicle clipped the front of Collins’ vehicle, resulting in the rollover crash. Collins admitted to being aware of the accident and not stopping to render aid or call 911.