Just weeks before a tragic car accident claimed the life of his friend, Michigan teenager Kiernan Tague was clocked driving at alarming speeds, often exceeding 140 mph, in his family’s Audi sports coupe. His mother, Elizabeth Puleo-Tague, was well aware of her son’s dangerous driving habits, thanks to a safety app called Life360, which tracked his speeds. Despite her concerns, documented in texts like “Slow… down right now!” and “It scares me to my bone,” she didn’t take away his keys. Instead, she reportedly gave him access to an even faster car, a BMW X3 M series.
On the night of November 17, 2023, Kiernan, driving the BMW, lost control at 105 mph on a residential street in Grosse Pointe Farms, a Detroit suburb. The car crashed into a pole and then a tree, killing his passenger, 18-year-old Flynn MacKrell. Flynn, known for his gentle demeanor and talent in swimming, was a close friend of Kiernan.
The tragedy has devastated Flynn’s family, who are now seeking justice not only for the driver’s actions but also for the inaction of Kiernan’s mother. They have called on Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy to pursue criminal charges against Elizabeth Puleo-Tague, drawing parallels to the high-profile case of the Crumbleys, whose negligence led to a deadly school shooting.
The MacKrell family argues that Elizabeth’s failure to restrict her son’s access to high-speed vehicles, despite being fully aware of his reckless driving, constitutes gross negligence. They believe she bears significant responsibility for Flynn’s death, akin to “handing him an AR-15,” as Flynn’s mother, Anne Vanker, put it.
While Kiernan faces second-degree murder charges and is awaiting trial, the question remains whether his mother will also be held accountable. The MacKrell family is determined to see that justice is served, hoping to set a precedent for parental responsibility in cases of reckless teenage behavior.