Teen Avoids Prison Time for Fatal Crash
A Michigan mother is grieving once again after a teenager involved in a fatal car crash in 2023 was spared prison time in his recent sentencing.
The incident occurred on November 17, 2023, when police in Grosse Pointe found Kiernan Tague, the driver, with 18-year-old Flynn Mackrell, the victim, in the passenger seat. Reports indicate Tague was driving at approximately 100 mph in a 25 mph zone and crashed into a utility pole around 9 PM.
Initially facing second-degree murder charges, Tague ultimately pleaded guilty to manslaughter as a minor in February 2025, receiving a “blended sentence” due to being 16 years old at the time of the accident.
Now 18, Tague has been sentenced to probation in a Level 2 placement facility. According to Wayne County Prosecutor Kim Worth, the evidence clearly depicted reckless driving in a residential area. Mackrell lost his life as a result of Tague’s actions, she stated, emphasizing that speed limits exist for a reason.
Flynn Mackrell’s mother, Anne Vanker, voiced her disappointment over the verdict on Facebook, stating that Tague had not taken responsibility for his actions. “Once again, he was protected from facing the full consequences for his violent behavior,” she lamented.
“This is not justice.”
— Anne Vanker
Vanker pointed out that despite recommendations for adult charges based on Tague’s actions, the court opted for leniency. She criticized the decision, relaying that it brings ongoing injustice not only to her family but also to the community seeking accountability for deadly reckless actions.
She recalled her son Flynn, who was about to start college, as her everything and lamented the profound silence and sadness felt since his death. Vanker noted Tague’s long history of reckless driving, mentioning incidents where he reached speeds of over 100 mph multiple times leading up to the crash.
In reflecting on the situation, Tague expressed profound regret for the pain he caused to Mackrell’s family, saying, “What hurts me the most is knowing that the pain I have experienced is nothing compared to what Flynn’s loved ones have gone through.”
