Payton Ferris, a 19-year-old driver who was involved in a collision that killed tow truck driver Keagan Spencer, pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of moving infraction causing death. The 63rd District Court heard this plea during a hearing yesterday. According to MLive, the charge stems from an incident that occurred on Nov. 4, 2023, when Ferris lost control of his car on M-6 close to Kraft Avenue and collided with Spencer, who was trying to help a stray dog at the time.
Spencer, a 25-year-old father of two young children, was tragically killed as Ferris swerved to avoid a stopping car, according to authorities and court filings. In order to safeguard emergency and roadside workers, Spencer’s grieving family and friends have been actively advocating for increased awareness and support of the “Move Over” statute since the event. As reported by MLive, a protest by a large number of tow truck drivers is anticipated on December 16, the day Ferris is sentenced.
Mike Garrison, Keagan’s mother, said, “It does hurt me,” expressing her sorrow and displeasure about the no-contest plea. I believe that simply entering a plea of no contest, there is no accountability of any kind. As she puts it, her sentiment reflects a deep sense of loss for a kid who “just had such a great outlook on life and on helping people.” Keagan told MLive that she hopes her legacy will go on by continuing to defend those in comparable fields of work.
Because of the circumstances surrounding the disaster, Ferris is only facing a maximum sentence of one year in prison, despite the fact that it was a tragic incident that brought grief and attention to the community. According to FOX 17, Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker clarified that the charge was impacted by the tow truck’s location, which was not on the highway shoulder. Ferris is still free on bond until his sentencing, which will take place in a courtroom with a parade of tow trucks and drivers honoring Spencer and promoting roadside safety, turning the story of loss into a call for change, according to WOODTV.
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