Man charged in road worker death on I-94
Harper Woods resident accused of hit-and-run fatality
A 51-year- old Harper Woods man has been charged with two felonies, including a 15-year charge, in the hit-and-run death of a road worker on Interstate 94 on Monday in St. Clair Shores.
Martin Dwayne Smith is accused of driving the vehicle that struck and killed Zachery Morisette, 26, of Chesterfield Township, who was replacing a manhole cover while working for the Macomb County Roads Department on eastbound I-94 south of Nine Mile Road, according to Michigan State Police.
Smith was arraigned Friday by Judge Mark Fratarcangeli in 40th District Court in St. Clair Shores on charges of failure to stop at an accident involving death or serious impairment when at fault, a 15-year offense, and failure to stop an accident involving death or serious impairment, punishable by up to five years.
Morisette’s older brother, Rodney Morisette II, told The Macomb Daily on Friday from his brother’s visitation at Lee-Ellena Funeral Home in Macomb Township he hopes Smith is prosecuted to the fullest because he hasn’t shown remorse. Smith fled from the scene and turned himself in a day later only after police indicated they identified the suspect vehicle, and he arrived with a lawyer.
“We’re going to get some closure for the family for what this monster took from our family,” Morisette said. “We’re missing a big part of the family, but we’re going to stick together. We’re fortunate we have a close family.”
The family is grateful people were arriving at the funeral
home Friday to show support, he said.
Smith’s attorney, Michael Cavabaugh, could not be reached for comment Friday.
Smith was being held Friday on a $25,000 bond, 10 percent, and is scheduled to next appear in court Oct. 9.
The arraignment took place af ter Macomb County prosecutors authorized a warrant following a meeting Friday morning with Michigan State Police investigators.
Smith turned himself in to police Wednesday afternoon after investigators received tips that a white box-style truck struck Morisette shortly before 3 p.m. Monday.
“Thanks again to the community for all the help in this investigation,” MSP said Friday over Twitter.
A 2012 graduate of Anchor Bay High School, “Zach” Morisette was a three-time cancer survivor, first diagnosed with leukemia at 6, and had recently been declared cancer-free. His uncle alsoworked for the Roads Department.
Morisette had a girlfriend.
“He would’ve been a great dad because he was such a great uncle to my kids,” said Rodney Morisette, who has three young children.
Visitation was being held 2-8 p.m. Friday at Lee-Ellena, 46530 Romeo Plank Road, Macomb Township. A funeral Mass will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at St. Mary Queen of Creation Catholic Church, 50931 Maria St., New Baltimore, preceded at 9:30 a.m. by a gathering of family and friends. There will be a procession from the funeral home to the church at 8:30 a.m.
In addition to Rodney II, Morisette is survived by his parents, Rodney and Dawn; younger brother, Ross; grandparents, James and Sandra Morisette, Larry and Bonnie Kort, and Muriel Kort; girlfriend Rachel Gillotte; nephews Jordan and Rodney “Bubba,” and niece Rozlyn.