A Bel Air man has been indicted by a Harford County grand jury for charges related to the September 2025 crash that killed one C. Milton Wright High School student and critically injured another.

John Anthony Gaeta Jr., 39, was arrested Friday morning, after being charged Tuesday with negligent vehicular manslaughter, criminally negligent vehicular manslaughter and two counts of second-degree assault.

The Sept. 18 three-vehicle crash on Route 543 in Bel Air killed 16-year-old soccer star Blake Elliott, critically injured 17-year-old Zach Griffin and injured six others. A preliminary investigation by the Harford County Sheriff’s Office determined that one vehicle was heading north on Route 543 when it stopped to make a left turn. The vehicle was then struck from behind by another vehicle, which pushed it into the path of a school bus traveling south on Route 543, according to the sheriff’s office.

Gaeta is the only person to be charged in the crash; he is being held at the Harford County Detention Center.

Asked whether the original crash report could be released, the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office said via email: “No additional reports, comment, or information can be provided while the case is pending. At the conclusion of the case, the state’s attorney and/or the assigned prosecutors will be happy to address the media at that time.”

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