Man involved in Imlay City fatality sentenced

Dangerous section of S. Cedar site of fatal wreck

LAPEER CO. — Eighteen months after a fatal traffic crash in Imlay City that involved multiple vehicles and seven victims, a Washington, MI man has learned his sentencing from a Lapeer County court.

Mark Wayne Goedge III, who faced two counts as a result of the crash, was 17 at the time of the tragic incident

In a press release on the sentencing last week, Imlay City Police Chief Brett Selby recalled the report of the tragic crash and the results.

“At approximately 8:15 hrs on Sunday January 29, 2023, Imlay City officers responded to a serious multi vehicle accident on north bound M-53 (Cedar St.) near Borland Rd.

An Imlay City police officer was operating stationary radar near the location witnessing the driver’s speed just prior to the crash and can verify that speed was indeed a factor through police radar.”

Chief Selby said as the officer was pulling onto Cedar St. to go north bound to stop the driver, that driver simultaneously struck multiple vehicles.

According to the police report of the incident, the at fault vehicle was a dark colored pickup going north bound on Cedar at a high rate of speed, operated by Goedge.

The Chief went on to explain months later, after the crash, “Goedge eventually recovered from his injuries after striking multiple vehicles and instantly killing 25-year-old Michael David Neu and critically injuring his wife, Katie in the front seat passenger side.”

There was also an infant discovered in the wreckage of the Neu vehicle.

Three other individuals including a male and a pregnant female in another vehicle were transported to McLaren in Lapeer as well.

Lapeer County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the accident investigation. All of the injured parties are on the long road to recovery.

July 29, in front of Judge Nolan in the 40th District Court in Lapeer, Mark Wayne Goedge was sentenced on two counts:

•1 count of Reckless Driving 257.626 (4)
A person who operates a vehicle in violation of subsection (2) and by the operation of that vehicle causes the death of another person is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 15 years or a fine of not less than $2,500 or more than $10,000, or both. The judgment of sentence may impose the sanction permitted under section 625n. If the vehicle is not ordered forfeited under section 625n, the court shall order vehicle immobilization under section 904d in the judgment of sentence.

•1 count of Reckless Driving Causing Serious Injury 257.626 (3)
A person who operates a vehicle in violation of subsection (2) and by the operation of that vehicle causes serious impairment of a body function to another person is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 5 years or a fine of not less than $1,000 or more than $5,000, or both. The judgment of sentence may impose the sanction permitted under section 625n. If the vehicle is not ordered forfeited under section 625n, the court shall order vehicle immobilization under section 904d in the judgment of sentence.

Goedge was sentenced 5 to 15 years on count 1 and 2 to 5 years on count 2.

“Seven victims total, one fatal, our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families in this tragic incident,” Chief Selby reflected.

Two of the seven victims are Imlay City residents, the other three were from Livonia, Mi.

The Imlay City Police Department thanked the Lapeer County Sheriffs Department and the Michigan State Police for their work in the investigation.

Imlay City PD Detective Greg Hadfield of the Imlay City Police Department, who was running radar, witnessed and investigated the accident and presented same to the Lapeer County Prosecutors Office, was key to the investigation as well, Chief Selby said.

Following the sentencing, the Imlay City Police Department thanked the Lapeer County Prosecutors Office for their countless hours of dedication to the tragic case.

Nearly two years later, M-53 from Newark Rd. to Second Street in Imlay City remains a dangerous stretch of road.

The Police Department, City officials and MDOT are working to fast track a solution which is long overdue. Traffic safety measures have increased this year on that same stretch of road that include patrol visibility, continued speed radar enforcement and placement of a speed trailer sign near Kroger.

Chief Selby reminded motorists, “Remember to pack your patience when exiting any of the businesses on M-53 (Cedar). One of the most difficult things for drivers is to recognize and gauge the speed of a vehicle coming directly towards you in relation to the speed limit.”

According to MDOT studies, in the past five years, there has been 135 crashes on S. Cedar from Newark to the railroad viaduct.

A $10 million boulevard is planned to be constructed in 2029 on S. Cedar.
State officials say it will help with traffic issues and safety.