ALLEGAN, Mich. - A Wayland man has been charged with driving under the influence of marijuana in a July crash that killed a newlywed couple in Allegan County.
Jacob Scot Damron was arraigned on Tuesday afternoon on seven counts. The most serious charge, operated while intoxicated causing death, is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
The 21-year-old was also charged with one count of driving while intoxicated causing serious injury and one weapons charge.
The July 17 crash occurred at the intersection of M-40 and 128th Avenue in Allegan County's Heath Township. At the time, Allegan County deputies said Damron's vehicle was westbound on 128th Avenue when he missed a stop sign, hitting a vehicle heading north on M-40.
The crash sent the northbound vehicle into the southbound lanes, hitting a third vehicle.
A newlywed couple, identified as 24-year-old Logan Thunderland Allbaugh, of Holland, and 22-year-old Hannah Mae Kwekel, of Zeeland, were killed. The two had only been married for two weeks before the crash. The third driver, Duane McDonald, was injured in the crash. Damron was not injured.
Logan Allbaugh's father, Rygg Cochran, responded to the charges on Tuesday.
"Those charges were extremely light. I was enraged," said Cochran. He says that the charges should be enhanced.
"Logan and Hannah were very special," he said about his son and daughter-in-law. "He was my only child, so no more beautiful son. No more beautiful daughter. And no beautiful grandchildren."
Investigators found marijuana and fluoxetine, known by the common brand Prozac, in Damron’s system after the accident. “His ability to operate that vehicle was visibly impaired due to the consumption,” according to the complaint.
Bond for Damron was set at $10,000.
The sheriff's office says Damron is being lodged at the Allegan County Correction Facility.
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