Woman who crashed into former state rep. gets probation

Lansing — A northern Michigan woman who crashed into Michigan state Rep. Pete Pettalia on a rural highway in September 2016 that helped result in his death will pay $915 in fines and face a year of probation, a Montmorency District Court official confirmed Tuesday.

Montmorency District Judge Benjamin Bolser also sentenced Nancy Lunn, 59, of Fairview on Friday to pay court costs, according to the Associated Press.

The 61-year-old Presque Isle Republican died in the motorcycle crash on southbound M-33, near C.R. 612 in Loud Township, while driving from Alpena to Lansing.

Lunn made a left turn in her pickup truck into Pettalia’s lane and the third-term lawmaker crashed into it, according to a police statement at the time.

The woman was charged with a moving violation causing death, a misdemeanor.

Pettalia sponsored a bill in 2011 to repeal a law requiring Michigan motorcyclists to wear a helmet, but the bill never went up for a vote. Instead, Pettalia voted for a separate Senate bill that allowed motorcyclists to ride without a helmet, which Gov. Rick Snyder signed into law in 2012.

Pettalia was wearing a helmet during the accident, according to state police.

mgerstein@detroitnews.com