PONTIAC, Mich. – More than a year after a horrific crash killed a 13-year-old girl in Walled Lake, part of the case has been closed -- but not the way the family had hoped.
On March 22, 2023, a teen was reportedly fleeing from police when they collided with two other vehicles at the intersection of West Maple and Decker roads. That collision set off a series of collisions with three other cars involved.
The crash seriously injured Erica Carrothers, who was driving her two daughters home from skating practice when the Jeep struck them. 13-year-old Piper Carrothers was taken to the hospital where she died from her injuries. Her 10-year-old sister Cora sustained significant injuries.
More: Parents discuss crash that killed daughter on way home from skating practice in Walled Lake
At 19 years old, Gavin Kassab was the oldest person in the Jeep at the time. He and the underage driver ran on foot. 14 months after the deadly crash, Kassab was sentenced Tuesday, June 4.
Kassad pleaded no contest in April and was sentenced Tuesday, June 4, to jail time, but it wasn’t the kind of sentence the family had asked for from the judge.
Piper’s mother and father bared their broken hearts to the judge.
“While Gavin was running, they were loading up the limp body of my daughter piper into an ambulance and my husband was rushing to the hospital to meet her as I held out hope,” said Erica Carrothers.
“Witnessing her passing away before my eyes and having to leave Piper to catch up with Cora to be sure I didn’t lose both,” recalled William Carrothers.
The parents are critical of the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office for taking so long to charge and also undercharging, citing other slights along the way.
“As if leaving my family to die in that intersection isn’t shocking enough,” William Carrothers said. “He and his family left for a Florida vacation a mere three days after killing Piper.”
“He could have made different choices long before Piper was killed,” Erica Carrothers said. “He just chose not to.”
Despite William telling him not to, Kassab still apologized to the family.
“I apologize first and foremost to the Corrothers family, all the victims and the community for their terrible loss and the harm I have caused,” Kassab said. “I send my deepest condolences and sympathies to the families.”
Kassab was sentenced to 8-15 years in prison, with 350 days already served. He could be up for parole in 2031.
The 15-year-old driver in the crash is expected to be sentenced in September.
