COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A Branch County judge has officially delayed the trial of a truck driver charged in a fatal accident following a new Michigan Supreme Court ruling regarding the admissibility of evidence.
Brian Lowry faces charges stemming from a tragic November 2024 collision at the Fenn Road exit of Interstate 69 that resulted in the death of 24-year-old motorcyclist Logan Hunnaman.
The trial, which had already faced significant scheduling setbacks due to ongoing local courthouse renovations, is now paused further to allow the court time to evaluate how the state’s highest court’s new legal precedent applies to disputed evidence in this specific case.
The core of the evidentiary debate rests on what information the jury should be allowed to consider regarding the mechanics of the crash.
Branch County prosecutors argue that details regarding Hunnaman’s speed, blood alcohol levels, and lack of a helmet are overly prejudicial and fail to prove he was grossly negligent in causing his own death.
Conversely, Lowry’s defense team contends that the victim’s estimated speed of up to 63 mph over the overpass and the presence of THC and alcohol are critical factors in determining whether Lowry’s failure to fully stop at the off-ramp was the sole, foreseeable cause of the fatal impact.
Judge Brent Weigle is expected to review the high court’s decision and issue a final ruling on the matter before setting a new trial date.
Comments