Driver who struck and killed Hastings tow truck driver appears in court for first time

KENTWOOD, Michigan – The parking lot of Kent County District Court 62B was full of tow trucks Monday afternoon coming to the aid of the Spencer family.

“When you say Keagan Spencer, everyone has a story about Keagan Spencer,” Miko Garrison said of her son.

Last November, Keagan, the son of Garrison and Matt Spencer, was hit and killed by a driver.

The 25-year-old tow truck driver stopped on M-6 and exited his vehicle near Caledonia for reasons still unknown, but his family said his tow truck lights were on when the accident happened.

19-year-old Payton Ferris is accused of hitting him. Ferris appeared in court for the first time via video call on Monday afternoon. He faces a charge of a traffic violation resulting in death.

Keagan’s parents, friends and colleagues who watched his arraignment from the stands said they would have liked a harsher prosecution.

“We don’t think the young man who hit and killed our son should be thrown in prison for years,” said Matt Spencer. “But we do think the punishment needs to be harsh enough to send a message to Payton that he made a mistake and we are paying for those mistakes. But also to send a message to the motoring community that there will be punishment if you hit and kill a road worker.”

Ferris faces a one-year prison sentence and/or a $2,000 fine.

And as the family prepares to go through the legal process, they hope Keagan’s death can serve as a message for everyone.

“The first thing we need to do is slow down,” Matt said. “If you see someone on the side of the road, whether it’s a mailman, a school bus or another road worker, slow down.”

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