KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM/FM) — An Mattawan woman, who triggered a deadly fire after backing into a gas pump at the Speedway on South Westnedge Avenue near Denway Drive in January, has been found guilty of a misdemeanor.
Investigators say 74-year-old Joan Temple hit the gas instead of the brakes, knocking a pump over onto 53-year-old Michael Seyoum, who caught fire when the gas line broke.
The father of four was pulled from under the pump by a bystander, who put out the flames. Seyoum later died at a hospital.
Temple was found guilty by a jury of committing a moving violation causing death, a misdemeanor. She could get up to a year in jail, but will probably just get probation.
Temple will also have her driver’s license suspended.
