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A Columbus man is headed to prison for two decades after a 2025 Franklin crash that prosecutors tied to drug use and a red-light violation, ending a case that began with a fatal collision on U.S. 31.
Jerrin Alan Staker was sentenced to 20 years after pleading guilty to operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death, with a habitual-offender enhancement added to the sentence, according to WISH-TV. Court records cited in the report say Staker admitted using drugs before the wreck, and a blood test showed high levels of methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Crash On U.S. 31 Killed Braden Robertson
Franklin police were called shortly before 8 p.m. on July 6, 2025, to a collision at U.S. 31 and Commerce Drive. Local radio station WKKG reported that 29-year-old Braden Christopher Robertson was pronounced dead at the scene, while Staker was taken to an Indianapolis hospital for treatment.
Witnesses said Staker's Jeep was traveling at high speed, and later investigative details described a vehicle traveling above 100 mph before running a red light and striking Robertson's car. Investigators also found drug paraphernalia inside the Jeep, according to WISH-TV's account of the police investigation and court filings.
Robertson Was An Organ Donor
Robertson's mother, Jennifer Robertson, told the court that her son was an organ donor and that she had contacted at least two people who received his organs. An obituary published by WFIW described him as a hardware-store worker who had recently started a job in Franklin and was known for his love of sports, hiking and his dog.
The Criminal Sentence Is Separate From A Civil Case
Staker's 20-year sentence resolves the criminal case described in the news release, but a separate wrongful-death lawsuit remains pending. Jennifer Robertson, acting as personal representative of Braden Robertson's estate, filed a complaint in Johnson County on November 10, 2025, alleging that Staker was intoxicated, speeding and responsible for the crash, according to the publicly posted court filing.
The civil complaint seeks damages for the estate and Robertson's family. Its allegations are separate from the criminal conviction and have not been resolved by a civil judgment.
