PAW PAW, Mich. (WOOD) — A man who hit and killed a Van Buren County road worker last year has been convicted of improper driving within a work zone, but not of drunken driving.
Logan Brown of Hartford was found guilty Monday of a felony moving violation in a work zone causing death and misdemeanor operating without insurance. He was acquitted of a felony count of operating while intoxicated causing death.
The crash happened March 3, 2023, on County Road 681 between 44th and 48th avenue northwest of Lawrence. Michigan State Police, which investigated the crash, said a driver ignored signs to stop for a construction zone, rear-ended another car and hit Van Buren County road worker Rene Rangel , who was manning a traffic control sign. Rangel, 58, of Dowagiac, was killed.
Procession honors Van Buren County road worker killed on the job
Brown, of Hartford, was charged in May of last year. His trial began Jan. 30 and ran through the week. Deliberations lasted about 90 minutes Monday.