Article published January 17, 2008
Adrian man pleads not guilty in wrong-way crash that killed five
Michael Gagnon appears in Lucas County Common Pleas Court before Judge Linda Jennings.
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THE BLADE/LORI KING
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BLADE STAFF
The Adrian man charged in the drunken driving crash that killed five members of a Maryland family pleaded not guilty this morning to seven charges in Lucas County Common Pleas Court.
Michael Gagnon, 24, is charged with five counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and two counts of aggravated vehicular assault. He is accused of driving the wrong way down I-280 on Dec. 30 and causing the crash that killed a mother and four of her children and seriously injured two other members of the family.
Mr. Gagnon, who is accused of having a blood-alcohol level three times the legal driving limit in Ohio, faces up to 50 years in prison if convicted. Judge Linda Jennings ordered a $1.75 million bond and set a Feb. 14 hearing date.
Local attorney Rick Sanders, who had been serving as the family’s spokesman, has now been officially retained as Mr. Gagnon’s lawyer.
The fatal accident occurred just before 11 p.m. Dec. 30 on southbound I-280 near the Manhattan Boulevard overpass. Police said Mr. Gagnon’s northbound pickup truck collided nearly head-on with the van being driven south by Danny Griffin, 36.
Killed in the crash were Bethany Griffin, 36; Jordan Griffin and Haley Burkman, both 10; Lacie Burkman, 7; and Vadie Griffin, 8 weeks. Sydney Griffin, 8, and Mr. Griffin were hospitalized with injuries from the crash but have since been released.
A sixth child in the van, Beau Burkman, 8, received only minor injuries including bruising from the seat belt. His injuries did not result in any charges against Mr. Gagnon.
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