Mother of Grosse Pointe teen killed in high-speed crash calls for charges against driver's parents

GROSSE POINTE FARMS, Mich. (FOX 2) – A year after the tragic Grosse Pointe Farms crash involving teenagers driving at high speed, a mother who lost her son in the crash says her search for justice is not over.

According to a police report, the 16-year-old driver was traveling over 100 miles per hour in a 25-mile-per-hour zone when he lost control, struck a pole, knocked it over and struck a tree.

On November 17, 2023, two teenagers were traveling in a 2021 BMW X3 when it happened.

“I stood in the foyer of my house and listened to them say there was an accident and your son didn't make it,” said his mother Anne Vanker. “I can't, I could only say no.”

According to a police report, the car was traveling at more than 160 km/h; the driver was 16-year-old Kiernan Tague, who survived the accident.

18-year-old Flynn Mackrell died on impact just one mile and five minutes after leaving his home.

“The lamp post was knocked down, about 20 feet,” she said. “The car went airborne, flipped over and hit the tree.”

In the months since the crash, Tague has been charged as an adult with first-degree murder.

“The black box shows us why this was premeditated murder,” said Vanker. “Because six seconds before the accident he was back at 100 percent, the accelerator pedal was pressed down.”

Mackrell's mother, Anne Vanker, says Tague should not be the only one held accountable. She says the 16-year-old's mother must also be held accountable.

“Which she did not do, but could have done if she had known there was a threat of serious or potentially serious bodily harm or death to another person,” she said.

She points to a pattern of speeding found in the police report and says Tague's mother, who bought the car – and was able to monitor its speed with an app – bears some responsibility.

“There is a mountain of evidence and she admitted it via text message. It scares me to death, it's not certain,” she said.

Vanker says this is similar to what happened to the parents of the Oxford school shooter, who were both found criminally responsible. That case set a precedent that should apply here as well.

“I am satisfied that this was brought to the attention of (Prosecutor) Kym Worthy's office.”

Vanker has contacted the Wayne County District Attorney's Office, but no further charges have been filed so far.

16-year-old Kiernan Tague is still waiting for a court date. In the meantime, further evidence has been handed over to the prosecution. It is not yet known whether further charges will be brought.