Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed legislation that renames a portion of a Delta County highway after a state trooper who died in the line of duty.
She signed House Bill 4429 which will name the stretch of US-2-and-41 the Darryl M. Rantanen Memorial Highway. Rantanen was in pursuit of a stolen vehicle back in 1974 when his vehicle was run off the roadway.
The legislation was sponsored by state representative Beau LaFave (R-Iron Mountain).
“I welcome the opportunity to sign bipartisan legislation,” Whitmer said.
From the Michigan State Police:
Trooper Rantanen and his partner were pursuing a stolen car occupied by two youths, after being alerted by Escanaba police. Trooper Rantanen’s partner, the driver of the patrol car, attempted to pull alongside the stolen car.
Before the patrol car could be brought alongside the fleeing vehicle, the driver swerved across the centerline forcing the patrol unit off the roadway. Both vehicles left the roadway with the patrol unit turning on to its side and its top striking a tree.
The stolen car skidded back across the roadway and came to rest in the ditch on the opposite side. The occupants then fled.
Trooper Rantanen was pronounced dead at a local hospital. His partner, seriously injured, remained under hospital and medical care for six months.
The driver of the stolen car, later apprehended, was convicted in Delta County Circuit Court and was sentenced to terms of 4-1/2 to 15 years for involuntary manslaughter and 4-1/2 to 10 years for intent to do great bodily harm to the other officer. Trooper Rantanen was the 29th MSP officer to die in the line of duty.
Whitmer signed two more bills:
HB 4067 allows the Michigan Board of Dentistry to issue five specialty licenses, in addition to the seven specialty licenses it currently administers. Michigan will now issue licenses for all twelve nationally recognized dental specialties.
This bill was sponsored by Rep. Ben Frederick, R – Owosso.
HB 4053 renames a portion of highway M-120 between E. Bard Road and 4th Street as the “Deputy Ernest W. Heikkila Memorial Highway” In honor of a Muskegon County Sheriff’s Deputy who was killed when his cruiser was broadsided en route to an accident call.
This bill was sponsored by Rep. Greg VanWoerkom, R – Norton Shores.
A copy of HB 4053 can be found here.
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