PAW PAW, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – A Hartford man convicted of striking and killing a Van Buren County Road Commission worker last year has been sentenced to up to 15 years in prison.
58-year-old Rene Rangel, Jr. was directing traffic along Country Road 681 near 48th Street in Lawrence Township when Michigan State Police said Logan Brown swerved to pass a stopped car and ran down Rangel in March 2023.
A jury in February found Brown guilty of operating a vehicle in a work zone causing death and operating without insurance. He was found not guilty of operating while intoxicated causing death.
Van Buren County Circuit Court Judge Kathleen Brickley Monday sentenced Brown to 86 months to 15 years in prison, with credit for 178 days served.
In a statement after the trial, Road Commission Managing Director Bret Witkowski said, “This is yet another tragic reminder of the risks associated with working on our roadways every day — and the importance of driving safely and slowly near road crews. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with Rene’s family.”
Ironically Monday marked the kick-off of National Work Zone Awareness Week. The Michigan Department of Transportation says nearly 1,900 people were injured in over 7,200 work zone crashes statewide in 2023.
Comments