Man gets over a decade in prison for deadly wrong-way US-131 crash

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A man charged in a wrong-way crash that claimed the life of a West Michigan pastor last year will spend more than a decade behind bars.

The family of Dean Elliott remembers him as an “amazing person with so many gifts and talents.”

“There aren’t enough pages or time to tell you the impact he’s had on me, my family, and friends,” said Brenda Elliott, Dean Elliott’s wife.

On the morning of April 2, 2023, Dean Elliott’s life was cut short.

While traveling on to Manistee for Palm Sunday services, Elliott, who was a pastor, was struck head-on by another vehicle on US-131 near Burton Street.

That vehicle was driven by 31-year-old Marcel McMillan , who was going the wrong way down the highway. Police say he was over the legal limit for alcohol and had marijuana in his system at the time.

“It was like a very tragic and sad movie, but it was my reality,” Brenda Elliott said.

In June, McMillan pleaded no contest to operating while intoxicated causing death and being a habitual offender.

As McMillan stood in a Kent County courtroom on Wednesday for sentencing, he was visibly emotional.

“I just want to apologize to the family. This was not purposely done, I know I put you guys through a lot. I didn’t mean to do that,” McMillan said while addressing the court.

Judge Paul Denenfeld sentenced him to 11 to 22.5 years in prison. He referenced the amount of cases involving wrong-way drivers that he’s seen before handing down the sentence.

“It is the fourth case I’ve had in the last year where someone got drunk and drove the wrong way on 131 and people died,” Denenfeld said.

Elliott’s children are now left to navigate life without their father.

“Two months after our wedding, my wife and I had exciting news to share with our family, we were expecting our first child and his first grandchild. Instead of being able to share the vast range of emotions from a son to his father, there is no longer that,” said Nathan Elliott, Dean Elliott’s son.

Dean Elliott’s daughter, Lauren Burgess, said she hopes McMillan gets the resources in prison so he can eventually make a positive impact.

“It is my belief that the best apology is changed behavior,” Burgess said.

Over the years, the Michigan Department of Transportation has made changes on US-131 due to wrong-way drivers. This includes lowering “do not enter” signs, using new systems to detect wrong-way drivers and alert others, and adding more pavement markings.

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