What would you do if you knew your teenager was exceeding 153 mph—for 20 miles—in your car? One Michigan mom texted her 17-year-old son, “Slow the F— down!” But the parents of a friend he killed just weeks later argue she should have done more—and they’re calling for her to face manslaughter charges.
The high-speed crash that killed 18-year-old Flynn MacKrell has left Grosse Pointe, Michigan, reeling. His grieving parents blame not just the driver, Kiernan Tague, but also his mother, Elizabeth Puleo-Tague, for giving him access to the BMW X3 M he was driving 105 mph when it hit a pole and split in half. So should parents face criminal charges for their kids’ deadly driving?
Michigan: no charges for Mom
Prosecutors in Wayne County, Michigan, decided not to charge Tague’s mother, despite evidence she knew her son was dangerously reckless behind the wheel.
Through a Life360 tracking app, Elizabeth Puleo-Tague reportedly saw her son racing at 140+ mph in their Audi coupe and texted him, “I have screenshots of you … doing 123 mph … It scares me to my bone.”
But instead of taking his keys, she bought the family a faster car—a 2023 BMW X3 M, capable of 177 mph.
Victim Flynn MacKrell’s mother, Anne Vanker, wasn’t satisfied with the prosecutor’s decision. “What do you mean she did everything she could? She bought a faster car.” Vanker added, “She went out of the country. She left the keys.”
On the night of the crash, Elizabeth Puleo-Tague was in nearby Canada. But Vanker argues that’s no excuse. “She was sitting on a ticking time bomb,” Vanker said. “She knows he’s out of control, yet she basically gets him a weapon. It’s like she handed him an AR-15.”
Prosecutor Kym Worthy saw it differently, concluding: “Parenting is hard in the best of circumstances. Most parents do everything they can to mentor their children and steer them in the right direction. The juvenile respondent’s mother was no different.”
The decision sparked outrage. Thad MacKrell, Flynn’s father, said he would have handled Kiernan’s triple-digit-speeding differently. “No more cars—it’s that simple.”
New York: parents convicted
Just months before Michigan prosecutors declined to press charges, a similar case played out in New York—with a very different outcome.
A 17-year-old there crashed his BMW at over 100 mph, killing his 14-year-old passenger. His parents were charged with child endangerment for letting him drive illegally. That’s because he had no driver’s license. They were convicted, sentenced to probation, and ordered to take parenting classes.
Prosecutor Melinda Katz explained the verdict: “With this conviction, we have shown that the culpability in a fatal crash can go beyond the driver.”
So when are you responsible for another driver’s crash?
Michigan’s prosecutors claimed Elizabeth Puleo-Tague had no control over her son. Court records showed 22 prior police calls about Kiernan’s behavior, including domestic violence against his mother and theft of her credit card.
Flynn’s parents see that as proof she knew he was dangerous. “She is not a victim to this kid,” said Vanker. “She should have done more.” But legal experts warn that holding parents criminally responsible is rare—and complex. The Michigan prosecutor argued there was no direct evidence tying Tague’s mother to the crash.
Here’s the rub: if we as a society decide a teenager with a valid license is responsible enough to operate a motor vehicle, it’s hard to argue their parents were legally required to intervene. What about a 20-something’s roommates? Or what about the Gross Pointe police who had received multiple reports of Kiernan’s reckless driving?
The New York case was very different because the parents there gave a person with no license access to a car. If that person had been a 50-something with no license, the vehicle owners might face the same charges.
Where does that leave Flynn’s amily?
Flynn MacKrell’s family is left mourning their 18-year-old son, who had just returned home from college for Thanksgiving break. Flynn—a 6-foot-4 swimmer known for his gentle personality—was the passenger in Tague’s 7-second joyride.
“To say this is a living hell is an understatement,” said his mom, Anne Vanker. “My life has been ruined. My family’s life is ruined.”
No parent should have to bury their child. Despite the legal outcome, I’m sure Elizabeth Puleo-Tague is one of many members of the Gross Pointe, Michigan community wishing they’d done more to intervene in the tragic story of Kiernan and Flynn earlier. From coaches to friends to siblings to neighbors, we can all contribute to the conversation about responsible driving. And you never know when what you said saves a life.
