TEEN SPARED PRISON AFTER DEADLY HIGH-SPEED CRASH THAT KILLED COLLEGE STUDENT

To the dismay of a grieving family, a teen was spared an adult prison sentence for killing their son in a 105-mph crash.

By FamilyToday Contributors

A Michigan mother is speaking out after the teen who killed her son in a high-speed crash was spared prison time.

Anne Vanker, whose 18-year-old son Flynn MacKrell died in a car accident last November, says she feels let down by the justice system. The crash occurred in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, on November 17, 2023, when the car Flynn was riding in slammed into a telephone pole. He was in the passenger seat, belted in, and died at the scene.

The driver, Kiernan Tague, was 16 years old at the time and was reportedly driving at around 100 mph in a 25-mph residential zone. He was originally charged with second-degree murder, but later pleaded guilty to manslaughter with a motor vehicle. Because of his age, he received a “blended sentence” and was ordered to serve probation in a Level Two placement facility instead of prison.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy expressed her frustration:

“The evidence in this case will show that the defendant was driving in a residential neighborhood at speeds that rival speeding on Michigan freeways. Sadly, Mr. MacKrell lost his life as a result. We know that the rules of the road exist for a reason — speed kills.”

Flynn had just started college at the University of Dayton and was described by his mother as “a cherished child of God” and “a true gift.” During the sentencing, Vanker read a powerful victim impact statement.

“My son, my Flynn, was my life, my heart. No words can capture the silence, the rage, and the sorrow that fill every corner of my world,” she said. “This statement cannot express the hell I live every day since Flynn’s death, but Flynn’s voice was stolen — now mine must speak for him.”

Vanker criticized the court’s decision not to try Tague as an adult, even though two pre-sentencing reports had recommended it.

“Today, instead of being held accountable, Kiernan Tague was once again shielded from facing the full consequences of his violent and criminal actions,” she wrote on Facebook. “The court chose leniency over accountability.”

She also revealed that Tague had a troubling history with police. Since 2018, he had been involved in 20 police incidents, most of which were due to “uncontrollable outbursts.” His mother often called 911 for help.

Life360 data collected by the family before the crash showed alarming patterns in his driving behavior. Between November 1 and November 17, Tague made 94 trips. Nearly half of those included speeds over 90 mph. His highest speed was 153.7 mph — for more than 20 miles.

At his sentencing, Tague did express remorse and became emotional when he talked about Flynn.

“My heart is profoundly heavy with grief, regret and remorse,” he said. “What pains me most is that I know that any pain that I’ve experienced is nothing compared to what Flynn’s loved ones have experienced.”

Still, Vanker says the outcome is unjust and has vowed to continue fighting for her son.

“We will never stop fighting for Flynn,” she said. “And we will continue to advocate for stronger laws.”