Allegan County prosecutors say they will not file criminal charges against the driver involved in the December crash that led to the death of longtime Hamilton Fire Chief David Haverdink. The call, announced today, closes a months-long investigation into the Dec. 23, 2025, collision on M-40 that left Haverdink critically injured. He died two days later, on Dec. 25, in a case that has been closely watched across West Michigan and within the state's emergency-response community.
Investigation and decision
The Allegan County Crash Reconstruction Team investigated the crash and shared its findings with the prosecutor's office, which ultimately decided not to pursue criminal charges against the driver, the sheriff's office said, according to FOX 17. Officials did not release the driver's name or detail the specific evidence that led them to conclude the case did not meet the standard for criminal prosecution.
Crash timeline and Haverdink's service
Haverdink, 74, was struck around 6 p.m. on Dec. 23 while responding to a medical call on M-40 near 136th Avenue. He was taken in critical condition to the University of Michigan Health-West in Wyoming and died on Dec. 25, according to MLive. He had served 51 years with the Hamilton Fire Department, more than 40 of those years as chief, and previously completed two terms as Allegan County sheriff, making him a familiar figure in Allegan County and surrounding communities.
Funeral and honors
In early January, a funeral with full honors drew a large response from the region's emergency services community. More than 100 emergency vehicles joined a procession to Riverside Cemetery, local outlets reported, as noted by WOOD Radio. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered flags across the state lowered to half-staff on Jan. 6 in Haverdink's honor, the governor's office said, as reported by WILX.
What the no-charges finding means
According to FOX 17, the prosecutor's office reviewed the reconstruction report and determined there was not enough evidence to support criminal charges. That decision reflects the higher legal bar for proving criminal responsibility in traffic fatalities, which requires showing culpability beyond a reasonable doubt. It does not prevent potential civil claims or internal reviews by agencies involved.
Family members, fellow firefighters and regional emergency agencies have thanked residents for their support and have asked for privacy as they continue to grieve, earlier coverage shows, per Hoodline. Haverdink's decades of service left a clear mark on Allegan County's public-safety community, and first-responder organizations across Michigan are watching how the county's handling of the crash and its aftermath unfolds.
