LANSING, Mich. — At-Large Lansing City Council member Peter Spadafore has retracted a previous statement regarding the recent street racing crash that occurred on Martin Luther King Blvd. On April 26, Spadafore publicly acknowledged his mistake after initially claiming that arrests had been made and people had died as a result of the crash.
In an interview with 6 News, Spadafore clarified, “I misunderstood a conversation with the mayor. No arrests have been made to my knowledge. I made a mistake, and I apologize for the error and any confusion this may have caused.”
The council member also addressed the retraction in a Facebook post, expressing his condolences and frustration over the tragic event. “My heart breaks for the lives lost and for all those impacted,” Spadafore wrote. “We cannot accept this kind of senseless loss in our community. We owe it to the victims and their families to act boldly and urgently to make our streets safer.”
The incident occurred on the night of April 24, when a high-speed street race between two drivers on S. Martin Luther King Blvd. led to a catastrophic five-car crash. Police reports indicate that the racers collided with a vehicle making a legal turn onto Pierce Rd., which set off a chain reaction involving two additional cars. Thirteen people were hospitalized following the crash, with two of them ejected from their vehicles and listed in critical condition as of April 25.
While the crash has drawn widespread attention, Lansing Police Chief Robert Backus confirmed in a text message to Lansing City Council President Ryan Kost that no arrests have been made. Additionally, Chief Backus stated that no one involved in the crash had died, though one driver remains in critical condition and may not survive. The second driver involved will undergo reconstructive surgery, and police will need a full medical assessment before determining appropriate charges.
The police chief also noted that felony charges related to the crash may be reviewed by the prosecutor once all the facts are gathered. For now, authorities are considering misdemeanor charges for drag racing.
The incident has sparked outrage within the Lansing community, with both Spadafore and Mayor Andy Schor expressing strong disapproval of the reckless driving that led to the accident. Mayor Schor voiced his frustration on Facebook, condemning the actions of the drivers involved: “As I continue to talk to residents and LPD, I am still so angry that some selfish, reckless drivers created an unsafe situation that led to such a horrible accident on S MLK, inflicting so much harm to innocent bystanders.”
In the wake of the crash, Spadafore has met with Mayor Schor to discuss potential measures to curb reckless driving in Lansing. Both leaders have emphasized the need for bold action to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Lansing Police Department is continuing its investigation into the crash, but they have not released the names of those involved or provided further details regarding the number of people in each vehicle.
As the community grapples with the aftermath of the accident, both local officials and residents are calling for stronger measures to ensure the safety of Lansing’s streets.
