Michael Benoit

A Rockford man pled guilty last week in the accident that caused his son’s death.

According to Cedar Springs Police Chief Roger Parent, Todd Michael Benoit, 35, was heading northbound on White Creek Avenue in a red jeep, about 10:25 p.m. October 3, and had stopped at the stop sign at 17 Mile before pulling out into the intersection in front of a westbound, full-size Dodge pickup truck. The Jeep was struck in the front passenger’s door. Benoit’s son, Derrick Mitchell Holstege, 19 of Wyoming, was a front seat passenger in the Jeep and died in the crash.

Benoit was arraigned in 63rd District Court on Friday, December 4, on a charge of OWI (Operating while intoxicated), a 15-year felony. He will be sentenced on April 29 in 17th Circuit Court at 2 p.m.