DELAWARE COUNTY, INDIANA — The semi-truck driver charged in the death of Delaware County Sheriff’s Corporal Blake Reynolds posted a $25,000 bond Thursday and was released from jail under strict court conditions, including surrendering his driver’s license and a prohibition on leaving Indiana. A jury trial is scheduled for September 22, 2026.
The court ordered Teddy Johnson, 39, to surrender his driver’s license to the court or Indiana State Police, remain in Indiana, and report weekly by phone to a pretrial probation officer. Prosecutors specifically requested the license surrender to prevent Johnson from operating commercial motor vehicles while the case is pending. A pretrial conference is set for June 11.
Johnson faces four charges: reckless homicide and involuntary manslaughter, both Level 5 felonies; failure to change lanes for an authorized emergency vehicle, a Level 6 felony; and reckless operation of a tractor-trailer combination, a Class B misdemeanor.
What the Evidence Shows
Court documents and a forensic examination of Johnson’s phones reveal a troubling picture of the moments leading up to the November 12, 2025 crash on northbound I-69 near Gaston. Johnson had been awake for more than 21 hours. Video from inside his truck shows extended periods of his eyes being closed, his head nodding, and physical signs of struggling to stay awake. He was also using a handheld device in the moments before the crash. “There are occasions depicted in the video where he held the device in his hand and tapped and scrolled on the screen. These actions took Johnson’s attention away from the road in front of him and to whatever he was viewing on the screen of his handheld device,” charging documents state.
Johnson was traveling at 61 mph. The emergency lights on Reynolds’ patrol vehicle were clearly visible ahead. The left lane was completely open. Johnson did not attempt to change lanes until one second or less before impact, at which point he steered abruptly to the left but still struck Reynolds’ cruiser.
A Driving Record That Should Have Raised Flags
Public records from multiple states show Johnson’s driving history from 2004 to present includes eight speeding tickets — some for excessive speeds — six license suspensions including for failure to appear for a driver safety program and failure to appear on a speeding infraction, three violations for driving without a license, and two unsafe lane movement violations. In October 2024, just months before the fatal crash, he was convicted in North Carolina for violating that state’s move over law — the same type of violation that contributed to Reynolds’ death.
Despite this record, Johnson obtained a Michigan CDL in 2022 and transferred it to Indiana in December 2024 — less than two months before he was hired by Parrish Dedicated Services in January 2025. Records show Johnson’s prior violations did not occur in a commercial motor vehicle.
The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles said in a statement that it reviews driver records for all CDL applicants using the State Pointer Exchange Service to verify previous licenses and check for suspensions or disqualifications in other states. “The status is checked at time of issuance,” BMV spokesperson Greg Dunn said.
Experts say it is largely up to trucking companies — not states — to thoroughly vet a driver’s history before hiring them.
Co-owner of Parrish Dedicated Services, Donny Parrish, confirmed Johnson had only been with the company since January 2025. “My heart continues to ache for the family, and I have prayed for them every day since the tragic accident. We are continuing to cooperate with the State Police in the ongoing investigation, and I am unable to comment further at this time,” Parrish said in a statement.
The Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Reynolds’ widow, Allison Reynolds, filed a wrongful death lawsuit on January 30 in Delaware Circuit Court against Parrish Dedicated Services, Parrish Leasing Inc., and Johnson, as well as A&G Deliveries LLC and its driver, Gregory Holmes. The lawsuit alleges Holmes lost control of his tractor-trailer and came to rest in the northbound lane of I-69, creating a hazard. It further alleges Holmes failed to remove his trailer from the lane, failed to call 911 or warn other motorists via CB radio, and failed to deploy emergency reflectors or flares. Johnson is accused of operating at an unreasonable speed, driving while fatigued, inattentive and distracted, and failing to yield to an emergency vehicle.
Reynolds’ Parents Push for Legislative Change
Reynolds’ parents, Bruce and Melissa, said the arrest and charges are a step toward justice but are now pushing for changes to Indiana and federal law to improve the CDL vetting process. Their son, they say, did everything right that night. He parked appropriately on the shoulder, activated his emergency lights, and was doing his job. Johnson should never have been behind the wheel of a commercial truck, they said.
“He had a horrible driving record. So why is he behind that vehicle?” Bruce Reynolds said. “That man shouldn’t have been behind the wheel of a truck at all. My son did everything he was supposed to do. He parked appropriately on the side of the road to protect the other drivers. He had his lights on. He did everything right.”
Melissa Reynolds said she fears Blake will be forgotten. She hopes legislation bearing his name will keep his memory alive and prevent future tragedies. “Years from now when we’re gone, I still want his name to be remembered. I still want people to say his name,” Melissa said.
The Reynolds family expressed gratitude for the investigation. “We look forward to justice prevailing and being served for the careless and senseless death of our son. While we know nothing will ever bring Blake back or lessen the pain of losing him, we hope this process helps prevent another family from experiencing the same heartbreaking loss,” the family said in a statement.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Interviews with the Reynolds family courtesy of local media.
📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.
