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A Michigan family is devastated after the driver responsible for their son's death avoided jail time. Kiernan Tague, 18, was sentenced to probation for a crash that killed Flynn MacKrell in November 2023. Tague was initially charged with second-degree murder, but the charge was reduced to manslaughter with a motor vehicle. The judge sentenced Tague to probation at a Level 2 juvenile placement facility, with the possibility of adult sentencing if he violates probation.
The crash occurred when Tague, then 16, lost control of a BMW while driving over 100 mph in a 25-mph zone. MacKrell, a freshman swimmer at the University of Dayton, died on impact. Tague, who survived, had a history of reckless driving, with investigators finding evidence of speeding and drag racing. MacKrell's family expressed outrage at the sentencing, calling it a miscarriage of justice. His mother, Anne Vanker, said, "Do you know how much pain and energy and suffering it is to have no justice and still have no justice?"
MacKrell's family also criticized Tague's mother, Elizabeth Puleo-Tague, for allowing her son to drive despite knowing his reckless behavior. Texts showed she was aware of his speeding, but prosecutors did not charge her, citing reasonable parental control measures. Tague expressed remorse during the hearing, saying, "My heart is profoundly heavy with grief, regret, and remorse," but MacKrell's family remains unconvinced of his accountability.