GRAND HAVEN, Mich. (WOOD) — A judge has postponed the sentencing of a driver who caused the Holland Township crash that killed a grandmother and seriously injured her 10-year-old grandson, after receiving a letter that the defendant was involved in a previous crash that killed a child.
The judge Monday said the court received a letter during the weekend saying 41-year-old Cameron Burrows was involved in an earlier snowmobile crash in which a child died. The judge called it truly significant information that needed to be explored before Burrows’ sentencing could proceed. The judge said it was important to react, but not overreact.
Photo: Police investigate a crash on the I-196 business loop in Holland Township that killed one person and seriously injured another. (Jan. 3, 2017)
The decision came after Burrows faced the relatives of 65-year-old Sandra DeBoer and 11-year-old Gavin DeBoer, who were the victims in the Jan. 3 crashon the I-196 business loop at 104th Avenue near Zeeland.
Gavin’s mother told Burrows she hopes he never has to watch his children go through what she has. She detailed the physical and emotional impact that day has had on Gavin, including learning how his grandmother died.
She said Burrows needed to be punished so he doesn’t put another family through what they experienced.
The court also heard from the other children of Sandra, who described her as a retired mother who was gentle, honest, humble, kind and full of unconditional love.
Burrows previously pleaded no contest to reckless driving causing death and reckless driving causing serious impairment as a fourth-time habitual offender. A no contest plea is not an admission of guilt, but is treated as one at sentencing.
Sandra’s children asked the judge to give Burrows the maximum sentence possible for his crime, saying they don’t believe he wanted to kill someone, but he did intend to disobey the law.