Man accused of hit and run delays prelim; victim still recovering

Brian Blackburn

By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief. 

LUDINGTON — The man who is accused of a striking down a local teacher/businessman in a grocery store parking lot with his car and then fleeing the scene, has waived his right to have a preliminary court examination within 14 days of arraignment.

Brian Keith Blackburn, 24, of 603 N. Delia St., was scheduled to appear in 79th District Court this morning. However, his hearing will now be delayed per his attorney’s request, according to Mason County Magistrate Patricia Baker.

Blackburn was arrested on April 16, within an hour after Scott Dumas, 50, of Amber Township was hit by a car in the Shop-N-Save parking lot in Pere Marquette Township.

Blackburn has been charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing serious injury, a 5-year-maximum felony; failure to stop at a scene of an accident resulting in serious impairment, a 5-year maximum felony; two counts of assault/resisting/obstructing a police officer, 2-year maximum felonies; possession of marijuana, 1 year maximum misdemeanor; operating a vehicle while intoxicated, second offense, 1 year maximum misdemeanor. He is being held at the Mason County Jail with a $50,000 bond.

Since the incident, Dumas — a teacher at Mason County Central — has been at Spectrum Health Blodgett Hospital in Grand Rapids. A Facebook page has been set up for prayers and support and also for the family to communicate with the community.

facebook.com/ScottDumasCarePage

“The last couple of days have been a blur,” Scott’s wife, Kathy, wrote on the page Tuesday. “Scott is kept so busy each day with multiple sessions of occupational therapy, physical therapy and others each day. Due to the traumatic brain injury, the lights must be kept off, curtains closed, no TV, monitors or lit screens.

“He still suffers from really bad headaches and back pain, but God is helping him work through them. He has a difficult time hearing due to the cracked skull on his right side.

“Scott is being so strong and is relying on God’s promise that He is holding him and supporting him through this journey. We are so grateful for all the support and prayers from everyone. Your prayers are clearly working. God kept Scott alive after being hit and God is still working on repairing his mind and body. All praise to God.”