Scottville man receives fine in US 10-31 crash case that resulted in death.

Keilman

Scottville man receives fine in US 10-31 crash case that resulted in death.

#MasonCountyNews.

LUDINGTON — A 69-year-old Ludington man was sentenced recently in 79th District Court in a 2016 traffic crash case that resulted in the death of a 77-year-old Amber Township.

On July 26, 2016, Philip Keilman, of 202 E. Beryl St, rear-ended an eastbound vehicle driven Walter Thomas Bourgette on US 10-31. Bourgette was preparing to pull into his driveway located between Amber and Gordon roads.

According to the crash report, Keilman told Mason County sheriff’s deputies that he blacked out. Both drivers, and Bourgette’s passenger, his wife Lillian Bourgette, who was 72 at the time of crash, were transported by ambulance to Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital.

On Dec. 14, 2016, Walter died from his injuries.

Keilman was arrested April 12, 2018 by the Mason County Sheriff’s Office and initially charged with a misdemeanor of moving violation causing death, which is punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a fine of no more than $2,000. Those charges were eventually dropped in exchange for a guilty plead of moving violation causing serious impairment of a body function to another person, which is punishable by up to 93 days imprisonment and/or a fine of $500.00

On Jan. 15, Keilman was sentenced by Judge Peter Wadel to 93 days discretionary jail time for up to one year, meaning if he does not comply with the court sentence the judge may have him incarcerated for up to 93 days within a one year period. He was also sentenced to pay a $620 fine and  $530 in court costs.

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