ST. LOUIS—A jury found 22-year-old Daniel Riley guilty of causing a car crash that severed the legs of 17-year-old Janae Edmondson, a high school volleyball player in town for a tournament. 

A jury found Riley guilty of second-degree assault and armed criminal action for reckless driving that caused the accident that severed Janae’s legs, fourth-degree assault for injuring another driver during the wreck and driving without a valid license. The jury recommended a sentence of nearly 19 years for all the counts.

Police say Riley was speeding down a road in his rented Audi when he didn’t yield at an intersection and collided with another vehicle, sending the Audi airborne. The car then hit a parked car, pinning Janae between two vehicles. The Nashville-area girl not only lost both of her legs, she suffered multiple serious internal injuries, a fractured pelvis and underwent 29 surgeries, according to officials. 

The trial included testimony for Edmondson and her father. 

James Edmondson told the courtroom the sudden impact of the car Riley was driving colliding with a parked car sounded like a grenade exploding, triggering his Army training, according to the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office. 

“My mind actually went from father mode to military [mode],” Edmondson said. “And when I looked down and saw her leg was severed, and I knew she only had seconds and not minutes, my mind just kinda’ blocked everything out. It was like God had control of my hands…,” said Edmondson while testifying this week.

He then told the jury he used a bystander’s belt and applied a tourniquet to his daughter’s legs to prevent her from bleeding to death before paramedics arrived. Doctors credited James’ actions with saving his daughter’s life. 

At the time of the crash, Riley was out on bond for a pending robbery case, even though he had violated the condition of his release dozens of times, according to the circuit court. Toxicology tests taken the night of the crash showed Riley had fentanyl, codeine and THC in his system, according to officials.

“Daniel Riley showed complete disregard for human life in the decisions he made to get behind the wheel of a car without a driver’s license and recklessly ignore the speed limit and traffic signs,” said Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore in a press release. “His choices had catastrophic consequences for Janae Edmondson and her family. While this verdict will not restore their loss, it will hold Riley accountable.”

Sentencing is scheduled for April 18.