An 18-year-old Michigan man has been sentenced to decades in prison for killing a pregnant mother and her unborn child during a high-speed police chase that began over a simple misdemeanor traffic violation.
On Tuesday, Judge James Biernat of the 16th Circuit Court sentenced Travion Twon-Deangelo Smith to between 25 and 50 years in state prison. The punishment follows Smith’s July conviction by a Macomb County jury on charges including second-degree murder, gross negligence causing the death of a fetus, fleeing and eluding, and two counts of reckless driving causing serious injury.
The crash, which happened on August 12, 2023, claimed the life of 31-year-old Faith Gumma and her unborn baby. Her husband, Norman Gumma, 36, and their 2-year-old son were also in the car and suffered devastating injuries. The little boy has since recovered, but Norman remains paralyzed and unable to speak.
The deadly incident began when Sterling Heights police officers tried to pull Smith over around 9:30 p.m. for driving a tan Chevrolet Equinox with its left turn signal on while staying in the right lane — a common sign of possible impairment. After running his license plate, police discovered the SUV had no insurance, a misdemeanor offense.
Instead of stopping, Smith fled, reaching speeds of up to 93 mph. At the intersection of 16 Mile and Van Dyke Avenue, he ran a red light and slammed into the Gumma family’s vehicle, causing fatal and life-altering consequences.
In court, Smith addressed the victims’ family, claiming he never meant to cause harm. “I was 16 when this terrible accident occurred,” he said. “I was scared, your honor, and I didn’t understand what happened that day. I truly don’t understand why they followed me in the first place. I am not a murderer of any kind.”
Macomb County Assistant Prosecutor Steve Fox pushed back, calling Smith’s denial “insulting” to the grieving family. “He says he is not a murderer. I have news for you, sir — you are. Your conduct killed a woman and her unborn child. You are a murderer.”
Judge Biernat also spoke directly to Smith, highlighting the tragedy’s avoidable nature. “Going back to that night, you had no drugs in your car, no guns in your car. You didn’t even know the car had no insurance. You would’ve been pulled over and ticketed. That’s all. But you didn’t stop. You literally wiped out a family.”
Following the verdict, Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido released a statement, emphasizing the ripple effects of Smith’s decision. “This young man’s choice to flee from a routine traffic stop has left an overwhelming loss. His actions shattered a family and eroded the community’s sense of security.”
Faith Gumma’s death and the devastation left behind for her family serve as a sobering reminder of how quickly reckless decisions can destroy lives.
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Author: thedailycrime1
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