The parents of a Grosse Pointe teen killed in a high-speed crash are asking Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy to charge the mother of the young man who was driving.
“This wasn’t an accident; this was an eventuality; it was a spinning wheel where Flynn’s number came up because the only one with the knowledge and authority to stop them was the mother, and she didn’t,” said Flynn MacKrell’s dad, Thad MacKrell.
Flynn, a University of Dayton freshman, had barely been home an hour before his friend picked him up.
They were heading to surprise another friend when the young driver lost control of the SUV, which was reportedly going upwards of 105 mph down a residential Grosse Pointe Farms street when he lost control.
The SUV hit a utility pole and tree at Ridge Road near Moran Road. MacKrell died minutes later.
The driver, who was 16 years old at the time of the crash, has been charged with second-degree murder.
But the investigation into his actions that day and the days leading up to the crash have unearthed more details that have the family feeling Flynn’s death could have been prevented if his mom had just taken away his keys.
Through the investigation, Flynn’s parents learned that the teen’s mother knew how fast he was driving. They also learned of other evidence, such as the teen reportedly keeping track of his own speeds.
“The pictures he took of himself driving at 155, 147, 123, 102, they are on his phone, and then the mom is also quoted saying, ‘I see you driving at such and such speeds,’ sending reports from Life 360,” said Flynn’s mother Anne Vanker.
“When you’re communicating with your child almost on any topic, stop doing this, don’t do that, someone’s going to get hurt, and it’s escalating, but you don’t intervene, create an opportunity for someone to behave badly there has to be a recognition, especially when something as heinous as the death of a young person to take place,” Thad said.
The Wayne County Prosecutor’s office says it is reviewing the request. The now 17-year-old driver has been charged with second-degree murder.