Man charged in deaths from accident

Patty Ramus
An Alpena man was arraigned in the 81st Court in Mio Monday on six felony counts stemming from a November 2007 accident that claimed the lives of two people.

Dean Hudson, 53, was arraigned in front of District Court Magistrate Shannon Wickham on two counts of vehicular manslaughter and four counts of felonious driving. The maximum sentence for each count of vehicular manslaughter is 15 years and/or $7,500 fine and each count of felonious driving is two years and/or a $2,000 fine. If convicted, the sentences would be served concurrently, said Barry Shantz, Oscoda County prosecuting attorney.

On Nov. 3, 2007, Hudson’s vehicle crashed into the Fairview Coffee Shop & Bakery. Witnesses told Michigan State Police investigators that Hudson’s vehicle was traveling southbound on M-33 when it crossed the center line and ran off the left side of the road. It continued on and struck the bakery.

The vehicle crashed through a side wall, hitting patrons sitting inside. Virgil E. Spainhower, 70, of Glennie was pronounced dead at the scene and 61-year-old Ruby J. Lane of Grayling was pronounced dead at Grayling Mercy Hospital.

Bakery co-owner Wendy Diller said the accident caused structural and internal damage to the building amounting to about $80,000. The business reopened on April 14 after being closed for about five months.

“The weirdest thing is the coffee shop had been here so long and it looked the same and we called it home,” she said. “(Now) it’s beautiful but it’s not home yet.”

According to Trooper Pat Pullum of the MSP Lewiston Detachment of the Gaylord Post, Hudson was arrested Monday in Petoskey following a Secretary of State driver’s license reexamination hearing he had attended.

According to the district court, Hudson posted bond in the amount of $50,000 cash or surety.

Shantz said a preliminary exam was set for June 19 in 81st District Court. Hudson’s attorney, Dan White, declined to comment on the case because he had not yet received the police reports or other information.

Patty Ramus can be reached via e-mail at pramus@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5687.