Upper Great Lakes News, Music, and Arts & Culture

A guilty verdict for Michael Nelson

Jennifer Perez

MARQUETTE, MI--   A Big Bay man who’s been on trial for hitting and killing an NMU employee last winter has been found guilty of the charge.  

Michael Nelson, 46, was accused of hitting Robin Rahoi as she walked on Lighthouse Road early in the morning of December 17. 

Nelson said he thought he hit an animal or other small object, but didn’t stop to see what it was, but witnesses for the prosecution indicated Nelson’s vehicle couldn’t have kept going and he did leave the scene of the crash. 

Nelson was found guilty of failure to stop at the scene of an accident when at fault, resulting in death.  It’s punishable by up to 15 years in prison. 

A sentencing date has not yet been set. 

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Nicole was born near Detroit but has lived in the U.P. most of her life. She graduated from Marquette Senior High School and attended Michigan State and Northern Michigan Universities, graduating from NMU in 1993 with a degree in English.