A man will stand trial for the death of Keagan Spencer, a Hastings tow truck driver who was hit and killed by a car on M-6 last year.

On June 5, 2024, Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker charged Payton Ferris, 19, who was driving the car, with a moving violation that caused death. This is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $2,000 fine.

He made his first court appearance via video call on June 24, 2024.

Jury selection for his trial will start on November 21, 2024, at 8:30 a.m.

Spencer, 25, was working on November 4, 2023, when he stopped in the median to assist a dog on the highway. According to investigators, a driver traveling eastbound lost control and crashed into the median, killing Spencer.

Spencer leaves behind a fiancée, a young daughter, and a future stepson.

His parents now believe Ferris deserves a harsher punishment.

“I am devastated. Spencer’s mother, Miko Garrison, said, “I feel let down by the judicial system.” “I feel a lot of frustration, and I feel like it brings on a lot of heartache that our son’s life did not matter.”

Matt Spencer, Keagan’s father, stated that while they do not want Ferris to “become a statistic of the judicial system,” they are hoping for charges that will encourage others to drive carefully in the future.

“This is a culture problem,” Matt stated. “We need to get behind the wheel and think about others. It isn’t just about us. And we need to begin doing our part. “It is all of us.”

Keagan’s family has been advocating for a new bill known as Keagan’s Law. The law would allow tow truck drivers to use blue flashing lights at emergency scenes. Matt Spencer has spoken with lawmakers about the bill in Michigan and Washington, D.C.

Keagan’s parents stated that they know some tow truck drivers who have decided to quit because they no longer feel safe.

“This is a big loss not just to our family, but to our community, to the tow community also,” according to Garrison. “And it’s also a very hard pill to swallow for those men that are out there every day.”

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