MEARS, Mich. — No charges will be filed in the crash at Silver Lake Sand Dunes that left a mother of two dead.
The incident happened May 26 during a racing event on the dunes.
Kadie Price, 33, and her family were outside of their car in the Vehicle Scramble Area of the park to watch the action at the drag strip on the Silver Lake Sand Dunes.
While they were watching, deputies said a 1980 Jeep CJ was racing northbound on the drag strip and lost control as it accelerated, veering off the drag strip and toward Price and her family.
The Jeep hit the Price's family vehicle, which then hit Price. She was able to push her 2-year-old daughter out of the way just before being hit, deputies said.
First responders and bystanders attempted to save her life, but Price was killed.
In a release, Oceana County Prosecuting Attorney Joseph Bizon explained why charges were not filed, saying that there was not enough proof to do so.
"There is no evidence to support the proposition that this crash was anything other than accidental," Bizon said in the release. "There was no intent to strike the bystanders. Therefore we are left with only the issues of negligence."
Bizon went on to say that negligence was rarely criminalized in these cases.
He also said that Charles Rifenberg, who was driving the Jeep, told police that his throttle was stuck. A witness at the scene who was a mechanic told police it sounded as if Rifenberg had been trying to brake.
Investigators were unable to recreate the throttle sticking.
"All activities come with risks," Bizon said. "By participating in or spectating at events, certain risks are assumed. Some activities come with more risks than others. Skydiving probably carries more risk than playing golf. But even ordinary every day activities have some risk. Racing vehicles, and recreational ORV activities, carry these risks."
Bizon told 13 ON YOUR SIDE in an interview that he is heartbroken about the incident, but he has to make sure he is focused on if their was a crime committed.
"We are heartbroken. Whenever there's a loss of life, it's always terrible and tragic, and I feel for everything that they're going through, but the fact that something tragic happened does not make the act a crime, and I have to be very focused on charging crimes that are crimes. So I do I feel for the family, and I understand the grief. This is not the only time I've ever had to make a tough decision like this. It is part of the job that I have, but it's important that we not criminally charge people who didn't commit crimes," Bizon said.
You can read Bizon's entire explanation below:
The Price family shared this statement with 13 ON YOUR SIDE: "While disappointed in the Prosecutor’s decision, the family is focusing on grieving the tragic loss of Kadie’s life and rebuilding as a family.”
After the accident, Price was remembered as a great mother and wife. The family shared this statement with the community:
"Our family is truly grateful and humbled by the outpouring of support.
We all knew Kadie as a loving wife and fierce momma bear, but she was also an amazing daughter, sister, granddaughter, auntie, niece, and cousin.
The greatest gift is family and Kadie made that her number one priority. Her world revolved around her kids. Many of us are going to try and help fill that void, but we all know a momma's love is irreplaceable. For all the special moms out there, get out from behind the camera and get in those pictures with your kids. It may be all they have left of you someday.
Please keep the McCool and Price families in your prayers."
Price was buried earlier this month.
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