Father Advocates for Tow Truck Driver Safety After Son’s Tragic Death

HASTINGS, Mich. (WOOD) — A father from West Michigan is striving to increase awareness about highway safety for tow truck drivers following the tragic death of his son last November.

Twenty-five-year-old Keagan Spencer lost his life after stopping his tow truck to assist a dog stuck in the median, as reported by Michigan State Police.

House Bill 5552 aims to honor Keagan by designating a section of M-6 in Kent County, stretching from Kalamazoo Avenue to 60th Street, as the “Keagan Spencer Memorial Highway.” This bill was presented in the Michigan House of Representatives on Wednesday.

“Other tow truck operators want to establish some form of tribute, and this will serve as his memorial,” stated Matthew Spencer, Keagan’s father.

As per Michigan State Police, Keagan was driving on M-6 near Kraft Avenue when he parked to help a dog in the median. Tragically, an eastbound driver lost control and struck him.

Matthew expressed that since Keagan’s passing, the family is merely trying to cope. “His daughter Lenora was only 16 months at the time of the accident, and she was with him. Riker, his 4-year-old stepson, is also struggling,” he reflected.

In the wake of the incident, the tow truck community, together with Matthew, has collaborated with lawmakers to advocate for stricter regulations concerning the safety of tow trucks and their operators. “Legislation is being introduced,” Matthew noted, adding that Representative Gina Johnsen has proposed “Keagan’s Law” to enhance existing move-over laws and permit tow trucks to activate their blue emergency flashing lights.

On Tuesday, Matthew urged drivers to be cautious when approaching a stationary tow truck. “Picture your office chair at the white line, working in front of your computer, with a vehicle passing at 70 mph. Please move over,” he advised.