PAW PAW, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – A Hartford man accused for striking and killing a Van Buren County Road Commission worker has been convicted after several hours of jury deliberation.
58-year-old Rene Rangel, Jr. was directing traffic along Country Road 681 near 48th Street in Lawrence Township when Michigan State Police said Logan Brown swerved to pass a stopped car and ran down Rangel in March 2023.
Brown was arrested in May 2023 and charged with operating while intoxicated causing death: a 15-year felony, moving violation causing death in a work or school bus zone: a 15-year-felony, and motor vehicle operation without security: a 1-year misdemeanor.
The jury Monday found Brown guilty of operating a vehicle in a work zone causing death and operating without insurance. He was found not guilty of operating while intoxicated causing death. His bond was set at $350,000.
In a statement after the trial Road Commission Managing Director Bret Witkowski said, “This is yet another tragic reminder of the risks associated with working on our roadways every day — and the importance of driving safely and slowly near road crews. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with Rene’s family.”
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