Photo: greenleaf123 / iStock / Getty Images
OTTAWA COUNTY, Mich. -- Alejandro Chavez, a 45-year-old man from Holland has been sentenced to six to 15 years in prison after a tragic accident involving a boat and trailer he was towing. On Monday (October 6), Ottawa County Circuit Judge Jon Hulsing delivered the sentence following Chavez's conviction for multiple charges, including failure to stop at the scene of an accident when at fault resulting in death.
The incident occurred in July 2024 when Chavez was driving a 2004 GMC pickup truck on Quincy Street in Holland Township. The boat and trailer he was towing broke free and struck 62-year-old Carmen Tirado, who was walking on a bike path. Tirado died at the scene, and another person walking with her was seriously injured. The trailer had been poorly secured with what the judge described as a "bubble gum and Scotch tape" repair, leading to its detachment from the vehicle.
Chavez was found guilty of several offenses, including driving while license suspended causing death and failing to stop and identify causing death, both punishable by up to 15 years in prison. He was also convicted of lesser charges related to moving violations and causing serious injury.
The jury trial concluded in early September, and Chavez was jailed pending his sentencing. The tragic event has highlighted the importance of proper vehicle maintenance and the severe consequences of negligence on the road.