PLAINFIELD, Ind. — The family of a 3-year-old critically injured in a crash and fire during a police chase in Plainfield told 13News Tuesday they have made the difficult decision to take him off life support today.

The family of 3-year-old Ares said doctors told them his injuries are too severe.

Ares’ 2-month-old sister, Iris, was killed in the crash.

On Monday, Feb. 10, prosecutors filed formal charges against 25-year-old S’Doni Pettis, of Indianapolis:

• Three counts of resisting law enforcement
• Two counts of causing catastrophic injury when operating a motor vehicle
• One count of causing death when operating a motor vehicle
• One count of conversion
• One count of auto theft

Pettis had his initial hearing Monday, Feb. 10.

According to court documents, an Avon police officer ran a license plate on a gray Honda Civic Sport around 9:15 a.m. Feb. 5, discovering the car had been reported stolen out of Marion County. The car was reported stolen three days prior in the 2300 block of North New Jersey Street, near Central Avenue on the near north side of Indianapolis.

Court documents say the driver, later identified as Pettis, failed to pull over at U.S. 40 and Raceway Road, which led to a short pursuit. As the suspect vehicle drove into the intersection of U.S. 40 and Ronald Reagan Parkway, it crashed into another car, which caught fire.

Multiple witnesses told deputies that the suspect vehicle had a red light when it crossed into the intersection before striking the other car.

Jack Vawter told 13News her 2-month-old daughter, Iris, died in the crash. 

Vawter said her fiancé, Shadow Moore, was taking their two kids – Iris and Ares – to their grandparents’ house when their car was hit.

Officers and good Samaritans jumped in to help get Moore and the children out of the car. Vawter said Ares was pulled out of the car and rushed to the hospital with burns on 60% of his body. 

According to Vawter, Moore is also in the hospital with broken ribs and a laceration on his spleen.

Police said Avon officers at the scene were also injured while helping people involved in the crash. The officers were treated and released from the hospital.

Iris had just left her 2-month checkup with her doctor about 30 minutes before the crash.

“She was honestly everything to me. Me and my fiancé were doing everything we could for those babies,” Vawter said.

On Wednesday, Feb. 12, Vawter told 13News her 3-year-old son will be able to donate his kidneys, liver and heart valves to other children who will need those life-saving organs.

“On his way to the emergency room, Ares was excited to tell the nurses helping him all about his stickers that he got at Iris’ doctor’s appointment earlier that day,” Vawter said. “From the moment he met Iris, he’s always told everyone how to take care of her and tells everyone how much he loves her. He even tells me – his mama – that Iris is his baby, not mine.”

Vawter said Ares loved to play pretend, some days pretending to be a police officer, construction worker or superhero.

“He truly is a superhero in the way he’s been able to brighten anyone’s day in almost an instant with all the silly things he says and his smile, that is the most contagious I’ve ever seen,” Vawter said. “I am proud of him every single day, and I just wish I could have seen the man he was meant to grow up to be.”

Vawter hopes no one else will have to go through the pain she’s feeling.

“Everyone needs to drive safely right now because you really never know. I was in the happiest times of my life, and now I’m in the worst. Just be there for the ones you love every second you can,” Vawter said.

During an interview with detectives, Pettis allegedly admitted to stealing the car Feb. 2 when he saw it unoccupied with the door open.

According to court documents, Pettis allegedly said he saw the Avon officer try to stop him near U.S. 40 and Raceway Road but decided to try to flee because he knew he was in a stolen car.

Detectives also got a search warrant for the stolen car, which data from the car showed it was going 95 miles per hour approximately five seconds before the crash. At impact, the stolen car was going approximately 88.9 miles per hour. Court documents say it does not appear brakes were used prior to the crash, and there were no visible skid marks at the scene.

Court documents say Pettis violated probation multiple times in the past year, testing positive for THC during multiple drug tests, failing to submit to multiple drug screenings and submitting multiple negative drug screenings.