‘He Was My Best Friend’: Teen driver charged in New London crash

NEW LONDON — Nearly eight months after a late-night pickup ride ended in the death of New London High School student Gavin Browning, prosecutors have filed charges against the teen driver, Owen Wesley Neff.

Neff, 18, faces multiple charges in connection with the Sept. 27, 2024 crash that killed Browning and injured Graden Weber, who suffered a fractured wrist and blunt force trauma to his head, according to criminal complaints filed Tuesday, May 27, in Henry County. These charges include Homicide by Vehicle — Reckless Driving, a Class C felony, and Serious Injury by Vehicle, a Class D felony,

On the night of the incident, the teen driver was operating his father’s 2011 Ford F-350 pickup truck with one passenger in the front seat and four passengers riding in the open bed of the truck. The front passenger was identified as Rhys Nelson, while the rear passengers were Gavin Browning, Graden Weber, Alaura Sickles, and Cadance Mortimer.

Around 11:28 p.m., Neff allegedly turned suddenly from E Cleveland Street onto E Adams Street while en route to Nelson’s residence. According to investigators, the abrupt maneuver caused Browning and Weber to be ejected from the bed of the truck. One of the passengers made contact with the rear passenger-side fender flare during the fall, causing a piece of it to break off.

Browning landed in the roadway and sustained significant head trauma. He died at the scene. Weber landed face-first, resulting in a fractured wrist and head injuries.

Cellphone video recovered during the investigation, along with witness statements, indicated the teen driver was operating the vehicle “with a wanton disregard for the safety of the passengers,” the complaint states.

“Owen was allegedly en route to [Nelson]’s residence,” the criminal complaint claims. “As they traveled down E Cleveland Street, Owen made a sudden left turn down E Adams Street. The abrupt turn caused rear passengers Gavin Browning and Graden Weber to fall from the vehicle.”

“[Browning] landed in the roadway, sustaining significant head trauma from this incident, resulting in his death,” the complaint continues. “[Weber] landed face first in the roadway, resulting in a fractured wrist and blunt force trauma to his head.”

The complaint further details that after Browning and Graden were thrown from the vehicle, the remaining rear passengers yelled for Neff to stop.

According to the criminal complaint, “[Neff] then brought the truck to a stop. He and the passengers exited the vehicle. [Neff] then pulled [Weber] out of the roadway and sat him down in the grass. Owen observed Gavin appeared to be deceased. Panicking he got back into his truck and drove off. [Neff] pulled over at the next intersection and stayed there until first responders arrived on scene.”

Neff did return to the scene later and made contact with law enforcement.

A preliminary hearing for the teen driver is scheduled for 9 a.m. on June 6 at the Henry County Courthouse. Prosecutors have not yet released the full list of charges.

Months after the crash, Neff participated in the school's Senior Spotlight series published by the New London Journal. In his interview, he named Browning as his “most special person.”

“He was my best friend,” Neff said. “I chose him because he was the realest person I’ve ever met. He would always make me laugh with his dumb ways of comedy.”

Browning was special to many in the New London community, and his death left a deep and lasting mark. As students, teachers, families, and neighbors grappled with the grief and confusion that followed the crash, they sought ways to come together in remembrance and healing.

In the days immediately following the incident, classmates organized a candlelight vigil on school grounds, where dozens gathered to share memories, prayers, and quiet moments of reflection. Friends spoke about Browning’s infectious humor, his loyalty, and the way he made people feel seen. Many brought flowers, handwritten notes, and sports memorabilia, leaving them at a makeshift memorial that quickly formed near the high school.

In the months that followed, the community’s tribute to Browning took permanent form. A memorial bench was installed near the school’s athletic fields — a space where he had spent countless hours with teammates and friends. The bench bears his name and serves as a quiet place to sit, remember, and reflect. For those who knew him best, it stands as a lasting reminder of his presence and the way he made others feel — joyful, accepted, and never alone.

Browning’s memory continues to shape how many in New London talk about friendship, responsibility, and community — themes now etched into the school year that followed his death.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com

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