COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A truck driver accused of killing a Branch County Road Commission employee June 4 on I-69 has plead not guilty to the charges against him.
38-year-old Robert Sean Craig was arraigned by video Friday from the Oakland County Jail for the crash that resulted in the death of Casey Rice, who was mowing when he was struck by Craig’s semi.
Craig is scheduled for sentencing in Oakland County in early October after pleading guilty to retail fraud and resisting arrest.
Interim Branch County Prosecutor Victor Fitz says once Craig is sentenced, he will be brought to Branch County to serve that sentence and face a felony count of open murder, operating while intoxicated causing death, and reckless driving causing death.
Court documents say Craig’s semi was traveling between 72 and 75 miles per in a 65 mph zone at the time of the crash. They say witnesses and video indicated no apparent braking before the semi struck Rice’s tractor, and video from inside the cab showed Craig’s head bobbing as if he was falling asleep, as the truck drifted across lanes and road shoulders.
Police reports and Craig’s own admission indicated cocaine in his system, as well as other drugs.
Once he is transferred to Branch County, Craig will be held without bond.
A probable cause conference and preliminary hearing will be scheduled once he is brought to Branch County.
Rice was mowing the right-of-way along I-69 when he was struck. He was flown to a Kalamazoo hospital, where he died two days later.
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