Florida man convicted in deadly distracted driving crash that killed child, sentenced to 30 years

BROOKSVILLE, Fla. – The driver found guilty of vehicular homicide in Florida’s first cell phone-related distracted driving case was sentenced to 30 years in prison Thursday evening.

Gregory Andriotis was handed 15 years for vehicular homicide, as well as five years for each count of reckless driving with serious bodily injury. His driver’s license will also be permanently revoked, and he will have to pay more than $100,000 in restitution.

Andriotis was found guilty of causing a crash that killed a 9-year-old boy and severely injured his parents and sister.

Florida State troopers said Andriotis was distracted by his cellphone and speeding at more than 100 miles per hour when he slammed into stopped traffic on the I-75 near Brooksville.

The collision caused a chain reaction crash. The Scherers, a family of four with two young children in the back seat, were crushed in the ensuing pile-up. Nine-year-old Logan Scherer was killed instantly.

Investigators later discovered Andriotis had been surfing the web, using apps, and even making electronic payments with his cellphone moments before the crash.

Though it took nearly two years to make an arrest, Andriotis was eventually charged with vehicular homicide and reckless driving. COVID-related delays caused his trial to be pushed back to the spring of 2023.