Officials: MSU strength coach was speeding, sent 6 texts before crash that killed two

MONROE - Prosecutors say a Michigan State University strength and conditioning coach texted a link to a strip club's website moments before his speeding pickup truck slammed into the back of another car this summer, killing a mother and her five-year-old daughter.

Todd Moyer, 38, of Holt, faces one charge of reckless driving causing death, although prosecutors said at a hearing Wednesday in Monroe County District Court that they intend to add a second count of the same charge.

Reckless driving causing death is a felony that can garner a prison sentence of up to 15 years, but Chief Assistant Prosecutor Michael Roehrig said a successful conviction on two counts could be sentenced consecutively. That means Moyer potentially faces up to 30 years in prison.

Moyer, who trains the MSU men's basketball team, was driving southbound on U.S. 23 near Dundee when the crash happened about 2:20 p.m. on Friday, July 14.

Construction along that stretch of highway led crews to reduce southbound traffic from two lanes to one just before the site of the crash, officials said.

The crash happened where two lanes were still open, but vehicles had slowed and started merging into the left lane, other motorists testified at Wednesday's preliminary hearing.

The hearing, in which Judge Jarod Calkins will rule if there is enough evidence for Moyer to face trial, is set to conclude Jan. 10.

Court records indicate Moyer's pickup truck was traveling 78 mph in a 70 mph zone when he crashed into a Hyundai sedan driven by Gladys Johnson. The truck's brakes were not applied before impact, according to records.

Johnson, 35, and her 5-year-old daughter, Za-Kira Johnson, both of Redford, were pronounced dead at the scene.

MORE:MSU strength and conditioning coach was allegedly texting when fatal crash occurred

In the 20 minutes preceding the crash — from 2 p.m. to 2:20 p.m. — Moyer sent six text messages and received 17, court records show.

At 2:09 p.m. and 2:10 p.m. he conducted a Google search for "big talk urban dictionary" and "big talk," Roehrig wrote in one of the documents.

At 2:19 p.m. Moyer searched for "steip (sic) clubs delaware ohio," Roehrig wrote. Then, at 2:20 p.m., Moyer sent a text including the link to a strip club near Columbus, Ohio.

"That search — viewed together with the other two Google searches — is further evidence that (Moyer) willfully engaged in distractive behavior while operating his vehicle in an expressway, even if not technically 'texting while driving,'" Roehrig continued.

Michael Nichols, Moyer's attorney, had argued that the contents of Moyer's searches and text messages should not be presented as evidence during Moyer's preliminary hearing.

Before Wednesday's hearing, Calkins ruled that the evidence is potentially relevant and will not be excluded.

Jeff Corie, a Monroe County Sheriff's Deputy, testified that he was among the first emergency personnel to arrive at the scene of the crash.

Based on the damage to the truck, Corie said he asked Moyer if he'd been drinking or had taken any medication.

Moyer said he had not. Then, Corie said, he asked Moyer if he'd been texting.

"(Moyer) lowered his head and he said one word, and it was 'yes,'" Corie testified.

Moyer sent another six text messages in the minutes after the crash, Roehrig wrote.

One, at 2:26 p.m., said he wouldn't make it to his Dayton, Ohio destination: "Not coming. Car is totaled."

The next one said, "Omg. I'm f----. Two ppl killed."

Finally: "I'm going to jail."

Moyer is free after posting $25,000 bond. Three more law enforcement officers are expected to testify in January before Calkins makes his ruling.

MSU Athletic Director Mark Hollis said after Moyer was charged in November that the coach would not be traveling with the team on a trip to Chicago Nov. 13.

MSU Associate Athletic Director/Communications Matt Larson said Thursday Moyer was suspended with pay on Nov. 15 and "has not worked with the team or performed any other job function" since. The length of the suspension is "indefinite," he said.

Contact Christopher Haxel at 517-377-1261 or chaxel@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisHaxel.