A Grosse Pointe teenager implicated in the high-speed crash that resulted in the death of his friend is expected to face sentencing today, as reported by the Detroit Free Press. The incident, which dates back to November 2023, involved Kiernan Tague, then 16 years old, driving his mother's 2021 BMW X3 at speeds cresting 105 miles per hour in a residential area with a 25 mph speed limit. Flynn MacKrell, an 18-year-old University of Dayton freshman, and Tague's passenger, was pronounced dead at the scene after being extricated from the mangled vehicle by first responders.
The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office initially charged Tague with second-degree murder, but he later accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to vehicular manslaughter – a felony that carries a potential 15-year prison sentence. Despite the adult designation attached to the charges, which provides the judge with the option of sentencing Tague as an adult or a juvenile, the family of the victim is calling for the maximum penalty. "If he gets to walk, that solidifies him as a criminal," Anne Vanker, MacKrell's mother, told the Detroit Free Press. She articulated the family’s grief and yearning for justice, reiterating, "No one should ever, ever have to lose a child like this … I still can’t believe my son — my big calm son — is gone."
Discussion around Tague's mother, Elizabeth Puleo-Tague, has also been a point of contention. The victim's family pushed for criminal charges against her due to inaction regarding her son's driving habits, yet Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy declined, noting the driver bore sole responsibility for the incident. In a statement obtained by the Detroit Free Press, Worthy described parenting as tough even under the best circumstances, adding, "The juvenile respondent’s mother was no different. She took consistent, active steps to try to make sure that he stayed on the right path."
Meanwhile, the defense has portrayed Tague as remorseful. His attorney, Gabi Silver, previously said to the Detroit Free Press, "He is so sorry and sad about what happened" and "That kid was his best friend … he spent most of his time over there. I don’t think that he’s ever going to be able to put this behind him." It's within this atmosphere of grief and accountability that Tague awaits his sentencing at the Wayne County Criminal Justice Center in Detroit.
Further information compiled from Audacy and ClickOnDetroit indicates that the fatal crash took place shortly after the teens met with another friend and the driver was speeding southwest on Ridge Road. The crash has spotlighted issues of juvenile accountability, parental responsibility, and the pursuit of justice within the scope of unspeakable tragedy. The sentencing set for 11:30 a.m. today will determine the next chapter for all parties involved.
