GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A man charged in the death of Keagan Spencer, a Hastings tow truck driver who was hit and killed by a car on M-6 last year, is expected to enter a plea in the case.
Payton Ferris, 19, who was driving the car, was charged on June 5, 2024, with a moving violation causing death by Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker. This is a misdemeanor that is punishable by up to one year in jail and $2,000 in fines.
He made his first appearance in court on June 24, 2024, through a video call.
Court records indicate after a trial status hearing, the court scheduled a new plea hearing for Nov. 20.
Spencer, 25, was working on Nov. 4, 2023, when he stopped on the median to help a dog on the highway. Investigators said a driver going eastbound lost control and went onto the median, hitting and killing Spencer.
Spencer leaves behind a fiancée, a young daughter and a soon-to-be stepson.
His parents are now left feeling like Ferris should be facing a harsher punishment.
"I feel devastated. I feel let down by the judicial system," said Miko Garrison, Spencer's mother. "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, said that while they don't want Ferris to "become a statistic of the judicial system," they were hoping to see charges that would encourage careful driving from others moving forward.
"This is a culture problem," said Matt. "We have to get behind our wheel and start thinking about others. It's just not all about us. And we need to start doing our part. It's all of us."
Keagan's family has been advocating for a new bill nicknamed Keagan's Law. The law would allow tow truck drivers to use blue flashing lights while at emergency scenes. Matt Spencer has spoken to lawmakers about the bill in both Michigan and Washington, D.C.
Keagan's parents said 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," Garrison said. "And it's also a very hard pill to swallow for those men that are out there every day."
