Bond set at $1.25M for Mich. driver in wrong-way Ohio wreck

Midday update

John Seewer
Associated Press

TOLEDO, Ohio - A Michigan man accused of killing a woman and four children in a wrong-way crash on an interstate while he was drunk kept his head bowed and said little in his first court appearance today.
Responding to a question from the judge, Michael Gagnon, 24, said only that he could not afford an attorney because he was a self-employed construction worker. Toledo Municipal Court Judge Michael Goulding then said a public defender would be appointed for Gagnon, who's charged with five counts of aggravated vehicular homicide.
Goulding set bond at $1.25 million.



Police said tests showed Gagnon, of Adrian, had a blood-alcohol level more than three times the legal limit when he drove his pickupin the wrong direction on Interstate 280 on Sunday night.
His truck collided with a minivan filled with eight people returning to Maryland from a holiday trip to Michigan.
Killed were Bethany Griffin, 36; Jordan Griffin, 10; Vadi Griffin, 2 months; Lacie Burkman, 7; and Haley Burkman, 10, police said. Danny Griffin Jr., 36, and two other children were injured. All are from Parkville, Md.
Members of Gagnon's family filled the first two rows of the courtroom during today's brief hearing.
Rick Sanders, an attorney speaking for Gagnon's relatives, said they want to say that their thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the crash and their family.
"They don't know what happened," Sanders said of Gagnon's relatives. "They're understandably upset. They're good people."
Sanders described Gagnon as distraught.
"He couldn't believe this had happened," Sanders said.