Driver Avoids Prison In 100-mph Crash That Killed College Student

A Michigan mother is heartbroken again aft nan teen who killed her son successful a 2023 car clang was spared situation clip during his sentencing past week.

Grosse Pointe police initially responded to nan single-vehicle clang connected Nov. 17, 2023, and located nan defendant, Kiernan Tague, belted into nan driver's seat, and nan 18-year-old victim, Flynn MacKrell, unresponsive and belted into nan rider seat. 

Prosecutors accused Tague of driving astir 100 mph successful a 25-mph area astir 9 p.m. erstwhile he collapsed nan conveyance into a telephone pole.

The suspect was initially charged pinch second-degree execution but later pleaded blameworthy to manslaughter pinch a centrifugal conveyance pinch an big nickname successful February 2025 and was fixed a "blended sentence" past week owed to his property astatine nan clip of nan crash: 16.

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Prosecutors accused Kiernan Tague of driving astir 100 mph successful a 25-mph area astir 9 p.m. erstwhile he collapsed nan conveyance into a telephone pole. (© Tresa Baldas / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Tague, now 18, was sentenced to service probation astatine a Level 2 placement facility, arsenic FOX 2 Detroit reported. Fox News Digital reached retired to Tague's lawyer for comment.

"The grounds successful this lawsuit will show that nan suspect was driving successful a residential vicinity astatine speeds that rival speeding connected Michigan freeways," Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said successful a June 13 statement. "Sadly, Mr. MacKrell mislaid his life arsenic a result. We cognize that nan rules of nan roadworthy beryllium for a reason, velocity kills. Driving 25 successful a residential vicinity is mandated, not a specified suggestion."

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The precocious Flynn MacKrell, 18, astatine his family's location successful Grosse Pointe connected Friday, Jul. 26, 2024, who was killed successful a car clang successful 2023 aft his friend collapsed into a lamp station astatine 105 mph. (Ryan Garza / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

MacKrell's mother, Anne Vanker, of Grosse Pointe, expressed her disappointment pinch nan sentencing results successful a June 13 Facebook post.

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"Today, alternatively of being held accountable, Kiernan Tague was erstwhile again shielded from facing nan afloat consequences of his convulsive and criminal actions. He killed my son, Flynn MacKrell, done repeated reckless and destructive behavior, and yet, moreover aft 18 months, nan justness strategy has grounded to clasp him afloat responsible," Vanker wrote. 

"This is not justice."

Vanker added that "[d]espite clear recommendations from 2 pre-sentencing reports calling for big sentencing, overwhelming evidence, and nan applicable Michigan Court Rules that let nan tribunal to see nan afloat scope of Kiernan’s behavior, nan tribunal chose leniency complete accountability."

MacKrell's mother, Anne Vanker, expressed her disappointment pinch nan sentencing results successful a Jun. 13 Facebook post. (Ryan Garza / USA TODAY NETWORK)

"This determination results successful a continued injustice for Flynn, our family, and each organization that expects existent consequences for fatal, preventable actions," Vanker said, adding that her family "will ne'er extremity fighting for Flynn" and "will proceed to advocator for stronger laws."

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"My son, my Flynn, was my life, my heart. No words tin seizure nan silence, nan rage, and nan sorrow that capable each area of my world. This connection cannot definitive nan hellhole I unrecorded each time since Flynn's death, but Flynn's sound was stolen, now excavation must speak for him."

She besides publication a unfortunate effect connection successful tribunal past week during nan sentencing hearing. In her statement, Vanker remembered her son, who had conscionable started studying astatine the University of Dayton earlier nan crash, arsenic "a cherished kid of God" and "a existent gift."

She besides described Tague's "escalating convulsive behavior" and "willful disregard for his mother's authority, nan law, and basal quality life." Vanker added that Tague has ne'er acknowledged "the gravity of nan crime" and has ne'er expressed "remorse" for Flynn's death.

Anne Vanker, of Grosse Pointe Farms, expressed outrage aft her son's slayer avoided situation time. (Ryan Garza / USA TODAY NETWORK)

"Kiernan Tague has been progressive successful 20 constabulary incidents since 2018. Most of these constabulary interactions were triggered by Kiernan's mother calling 911 because of his uncontrollable outbursts," she wrote. 

Tague's driving history successful nan months earlier nan clang included hitting speeds of 102 mph, 127 mph, 143 mph, 150 mph and 155 mph, nan Detroit Free Press reported, citing constabulary reports, cellphone exchanges and Life360 records.

Vanker besides noted that Tague's family utilized nan Life 360 app to support tabs connected their son's location, arsenic galore parents do, and a hunt warrant for information from nan app showed Tague's reckless driving tendencies. Police reports, Life360 records and different documents showed 

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"From November 1 to November 17, Kiernan made 94 trips successful his car," Vanker wrote. "Of those 94 trips, 10% were complete 120 [mph], 18% were complete 110 [mph], 26% were complete 100 [mph], and 45% were complete 90 [mph]. The apical velocity was recorded connected November 1, 2023, erstwhile Kiernan Tague traveled astatine aliases supra 153.7 mph for 20.5 miles."

Tague besides said astatine his sentencing and astatine times became choked up erstwhile talking astir Flynn, whom he described arsenic his champion friend, according to FOX 2.

"My bosom is profoundly dense pinch grief, regret and remorse," Tague said connected June 13, arsenic FOX 2 reported. "What pains maine astir is that I cognize that immoderate symptom that I've knowledgeable is thing compared to what Flynn's loved ones, particularly his parents, sister, brother, and family person experienced."