×

No contest plea in fatal Breitung crash

Nikki Younk/Daily News Photo Nicole Vanderlin, left, appears in Dickinson County District Court with defense attorney Vincent Petrucelli to enter pleas to misdemeanor charges stemming from a June 6 fatal traffic accident in Breitung Township.

IRON MOUNTAIN — A Vulcan woman pleaded no contest Friday in Dickinson County District Court to a pair of misdemeanors stemming from a June 6 fatal traffic accident in Breitung Township that claimed the lives of two Quinnesec men.

Nicole Ann-Marie Vanderlin, 23, will be sentenced May 23 on two counts of moving violation causing death, a one-year misdemeanor.

Dickinson County Prosecutor Lisa Richards told the court the only term of her plea deal with Vanderlin was that she wouldn’t object to the no contest pleas, as there is a pending civil case in the matter.

In a no contest plea, a defendant doesn’t admit guilt but doesn’t dispute the charges. Judges treat it as a guilty plea for sentencing purposes.

Defense attorney Vincent Petrucelli said he will argue for a delayed sentence — which, if granted, could give Vanderlin the chance to avoid a criminal conviction — but Richards noted it was not part of the plea deal.

Vanderlin is free on bond.

Investigators believe Vanderlin was traveling 61 mph in a 50 mph zone when she crossed the double center line on Breitung Cutoff Road near Hydraulic Falls Road and collided head-on with a vehicle occupied by 62-year-old Rodney Nelson and 58-year-old Randall Nelson.

Patricia Gedvick, 53, of Vulcan was driving behind the Nelsons’ vehicle and struck its rear, according to the initial press release from the Michigan State Police.

Randall Nelson died at the crash site and Rodney Nelson died at Dickinson County Memorial Hospital, with the cause of death listed as blunt force trauma, according to a police report read in court.

Vanderlin and Gedvick went to the hospital for treatment, the initial release stated.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today