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Committee approves renaming four-mile stretch of M-6 for tow‑truck operator Keegan Spencer
Summary
House Bill 4,267 was reported with recommendation to rename about four miles of M-6 near Hastings for Keegan Spencer, a tow‑truck operator killed on the roadside in November 2023; family members and industry advocates testified about roadside safety.
Representative Wirtz presented House Bill 4,267 to rename a roughly four-mile portion of M-6 from the Sixtieth Overpass to near Kalamazoo Avenue as the Keegan Spencer Memorial Highway after testimony from the victim’s father and industry members about roadside worker safety.
"Keegan's life mattered," Representative Wirtz said, urging the committee to honor Spencer, a third‑generation tow‑truck operator who died Nov. 4, 2023. Spencer’s father testified to the circumstances on the record, describing video evidence of a speeding, distracted driver who struck Spencer’s tow truck and hit him at about 80 miles per hour while Spencer was working near the roadway. The witness said Spencer’s 16‑year‑old daughter was in the truck at the time and community members have raised funds for memorialization and safety awareness.
The father described the broader risk to roadside workers and asked the committee to use the designation to raise awareness about the Move Over law and roadside safety. Several committee members expressed sympathy and noted the dangers tow‑truck operators face; Representative Alexander moved to report the bill with recommendation. The clerk's roll call recorded 15 yes, 0 no, 0 pass and the motion prevailed.
Testimony included data cited by the father that in 2023 there were 46 roadside worker deaths nationally (the father stated 34 had been struck previously in a related comment). He said the towing industry would provide funding for signage. The committee record does not include a line‑item appropriation; implementation details and exact sign costs were not recorded in committee testimony.
