Monroe, MI – A Monroe man has been sentenced to a minimum of eight years in prison following a tragic incident that resulted in the death of a pedestrian after last summer’s Fourth of July fireworks show at Sterling State Park. William Clay Cordell, 24, was driving a Ford F-150 pickup on July 3 when he struck and killed David Revels II.
Revels, 35, was walking along State Park Drive near Durocher Street at around 11 p.m. when he was fatally hit by the pickup, which was reportedly being driven recklessly. The driver fled the scene after the collision. Deputies from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office investigated the incident and determined the circumstances surrounding the accident.
According to the sheriff’s office, at the time of the collision, the southeast lane of State Park Drive was being used to reduce traffic congestion from vehicles leaving the fireworks display, and was controlled by traffic-control barricades and law enforcement officers directing vehicles. Despite this, neither drugs nor alcohol appeared to be a factor in Cordell’s actions, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Cordell pleaded no contest in November to involuntary manslaughter and failure to stop at the scene of an accident when at fault resulting in death. As part of a plea agreement, he received a sentence of 8 to 15 years on each count. The judge followed the agreement and he received credit for 191 days already served on each count, and the sentences will run concurrently to each other.
While an original charge of second-degree murder was dismissed as part of the plea agreement, Revels’ estate has filed a civil lawsuit against Cordell in Monroe County Circuit Court. At sentencing, Revels’ family expressed their frustration and devastation with Cordell’s actions. Cordell did express his remorse to the family at sentencing.
The investigation was led by Detective Robert Blair of the sheriff’s office, and the case was prosecuted by Kenneth Laurain and Jonathan Jones, with representation for Cordell by attorney Mark Ellis of Livonia. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Detectives and Deputies who worked tirelessly to identify and apprehend the Defendant were commended for their efforts.