DELAWARE COUNTY, INDIANA — The semi-truck driver who struck and killed Delaware County Sheriff’s Corporal Blake Reynolds while he was assisting a stranded motorist on Interstate 69 in November 2025 has been arrested, with court documents revealing he had been awake for more than 21 hours, was scrolling social media on his phone, and was physically fighting to stay awake in the moments before the fatal crash.
Teddy Johnson, 39, of New Haven, Indiana, was taken into custody Monday, April 27, by Indiana State Police troopers executing a sealed arrest warrant. A judge ordered Johnson held without bail pending further order of the court. His initial hearing is scheduled for Thursday in Delaware County. Johnson faces the following charges:
• Reckless Homicide — Level 5 Felony
• Involuntary Manslaughter — Level 5 Felony
• Failure to Change Lanes for an Authorized Emergency Vehicle — Level 6 Felony
• Reckless Operation of a Tractor-Trailer Combination — Class B Misdemeanor
What Court Documents Reveal
According to charging documents, dashcam footage from inside Johnson’s truck clearly showed the flashing red and blue emergency lights of Reynolds’ cruiser in the right lane. The left lane was completely clear of traffic. Johnson did not attempt to change lanes until less than one second before impact, at which point he was traveling approximately 61 mph.
Johnson was wearing headphones at the time of the crash and had a handheld device resting on his right thigh. An examination of the device showed he had been clicking and scrolling social media applications multiple times during the same period he was driving.
The dashcam also captured Johnson physically struggling to stay awake — touching his face repeatedly, stretching his arms, shifting in his seat, and keeping his eyes closed for extended periods. “He also caught himself falling asleep and shook his head back and forth as if he was trying to stay awake,” the documents stated.
Investigators determined Johnson had been awake for more than 21 hours before the crash, some of that time spent taking his son to and from a babysitter and preschool. When interviewed at the hospital following the crash, Johnson said he did not remember much. When asked if he had ever caught himself falling asleep at the wheel, he replied: “Not going to lie, I have before.”
Court documents also listed prior infractions, including multiple speeding citations, unsafe lane changes, and a citation in October 2024 in North Carolina for unlawfully passing an emergency or public service vehicle.
The Crash
The crash occurred at approximately 3:30 a.m. on November 12, 2025, on northbound I-69 at mile marker 247 near Gaston. Reynolds, 31, had stopped to assist a Volvo semi-truck that was partially blocking the roadway after its trailer had partly slid off the truck. Reynolds was on the far side of the stopped trailer taking photographs when Johnson’s semi struck the back of Reynolds’ parked cruiser. Reynolds’ cruiser went flying off the road and Johnson’s semi then slammed into the back of the stopped trailer. The trailer struck Reynolds. Medics transported him to Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie, where he was pronounced dead from blunt force injuries. Johnson was airlifted to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis for surgery.
Reynolds had been with the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office for four years, having joined in 2022 after serving in the Army Reserve. He was promoted to corporal and had married his wife Allison in June 2025.
Family and Officials Respond
Reynolds’ parents, Bruce Jr. and Melissa Reynolds, said they are grateful for the investigation that led to the arrest. “We are thankful for the investigation conducted by the Indiana State Police and the Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office that led to the arrest of Teddy Johnson. 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.
Reynolds’ grandfather, Bruce Reynolds Sr., said the arrest brought some relief after months of waiting. “Relieved. For myself, relief, because it has been such a long period of time. The issue is you can never bring back Blake. Hopefully justice will be served, and this man will be taken off the streets, but it doesn’t bring back Blake. Blake was an outstanding individual. I couldn’t be more proud of him. We hope and pray that out of this tragedy, some good may come out of it. Maybe there will be some laws passed that will help prohibit something like this from happening again,” he said.
Delaware County Sheriff Tony Skinner said the arrest marks an important step. “This is just another step in the process of holding somebody accountable for this completely unnecessary and tragic loss. We’d hoped that today would come, and we’re glad it’s here. It doesn’t make the healing process any easier, but it gives us a little bit of satisfaction to know the process is still working,” Skinner said. He also remembered Reynolds fondly. “He was a great guy, great supervisor. Had an awesome potential here. Had a great future with the sheriff’s office.”
The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement: “Corporal Reynolds was more than a deputy. He was a respected law enforcement officer, a dedicated public servant and a valued member of our Sheriff’s Office family. His loss continues to weigh heavily on this department and this community. While today’s development cannot undo the loss suffered by the Reynolds family or this department, it represents an important step toward accountability. We remain committed to standing with the Reynolds family and ensuring that Blake’s service and sacrifice are never forgotten.”
Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Reynolds’ widow, Allison, filed a wrongful death lawsuit approximately three months after the crash against both semi-truck drivers involved, their employers, and the owners of one of the trucks. The lawsuit accuses the driver of the stopped truck of operating while fatigued, inattentive, and distracted, at an unreasonable speed, and off the paved portion of I-69. Johnson is accused in the lawsuit of operating while fatigued and distracted, failing to yield to emergency vehicles, and failing to brake or take evasive action.
Prairie Farms, the company whose truck struck Reynolds’ patrol vehicle, issued a statement expressing condolences and confirming full cooperation with investigators.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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