Man sentenced to three years in connection with deadly Harford County school bus crash

A man convicted in connection with a 2025 Harford County crash that killed a high school student and seriously injured another student has been sentenced to three years in prison.

In June, John Anthony Gaeta Jr. was found guilty of criminally negligent manslaughter in the crash that killed 16-year-old Blake Elliott, a student at C. Milton Wright High School in Bel Air, Maryland. Elliott's 17-year-old boyfriend was also seriously injured in the crash.

Court documents show that on Sept. 18, 2025, Gaeta failed to apply the brakes before crashing into the back of a vehicle driven by Zachary Griffin, pushing it into the path of a school bus on Route 543. Court records also show Gaeta was using his phone at the time of the crash.

Gaeta was escorted in handcuffs out of the courtroom after being given the maximum sentence allowed by law. One day of his prison term was suspended. He will also pay $36,837.54 in restitution to the Elliott family.

"This maximum sentence is a swift and certain message to those driving on the roads of Harford County to get off your cell phones and avoid other distractions while you are driving," Harford County State's Attorney Alison Healey said.

In court, Judge Alex Allman said the community needs to understand those actions cannot be tolerated.

"I don't think I'll ever forget this case," Allman said before handing down his sentence.

The Harford County State's Attorney's Office said Gaeta traveled 371 feet during the five seconds before the crash, reducing his speed from 53 mph to just 47 mph before pushing the victims' vehicle into the path of the oncoming school bus.

Elliott was trapped inside the vehicle and was pronounced dead shortly after arriving by ambulance at University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health. Griffin survived but spent nearly two weeks at Shock Trauma.

Several impact statements were read aloud in court, including Elliott's mother, father, sister and two aunts.

Griffin, who was in court Monday, submitted a letter privately to the judge and his mother also provided a letter that was read to the courtroom by a prosecutor. In court, prosecutors said he is starting at the University of Delaware this fall, moving onto campus this weekend.

Elliott's mother, Belinda, questioned how her family is supposed to go on and said, "We're forced to walk with grief and trauma."

She added, "I hope this haunts him [Gaeta] for the rest of his days."

Elliott's father, Rob, said his family was given a life sentence of grief and that his entire world has changed for the worse.

Her sister, Brooke, described Elliott as "perfect", saying, "She was my best friend and now my best friend is gone…The most important person is missing."

The Elliott family described the deep emotional trauma they experienced and have been dealing with for nearly one year.

Gaeta also spoke in court, saying he is completely heartbroken for the accident he caused. He said he beats himself up every day.

"I know nothing I can say can give you comfort," he said to the families. "I have caused unimaginable devastation."

He also apologized directly to Elliott, Griffin and their families.

Gaeta's girlfriend also addressed the court saying, "He is more than the worst moment of his life."

During a press conference after the hearing, Healey said she is personally working on legislation with the Elliott and Griffin families to clarify laws and increase penalties for these types of cases. She said there needs to be a law for criminal negligence causing a life-threatening injury, which is currently not in the books. She also said the gross negligence standard needs to be more clearly defined for distracted driving. Finally, she said the penalties for this type of crime need to be increased.

"I cannot stress enough how dangerous it is to drive distracted. People's lives are not worth whatever is happening on your phone. Just like Blake's life was certainly worth far more than the defendant's virtual girlfriend, Instagram story, and chess game," Healey said.