Brother gets minimum of 10 years in prison in crash that killed sister, second Mason teen
LANSING — A Mason man was sentenced to prison Monday for his role in a crash that killed his younger sister and another 16-year-old girl last fall in Delhi Township.
Concluding an emotion-charged hearing, Ingham County Circuit Judge Joyce Draganchuk sentenced Elijah Matthew Klages, 19, to consecutive terms of 5 to 15 years for separate counts of operating under the influence causing death in connection with the deaths of Lillian Klages and Amanda Blue, both 16.
"Your crime is a crime against us all," Draganchuk told Klages, saying she considered the impact the incident had on "everyone's lives." The judge said she hoped the sentence would be a deterrence to others who might consider drinking and driving.
Members of Amanda's family made emotional pleas for the judge to levy the maximum penalty. They described her as a "bright light" who never judged others and had a heart "overflowing with compassion for others."
"This is a person that has no regard for human life," Amanda's father, Dennis, said, referring to Elijah Klages, in a statement read in court.
Klages pleaded guilty in May to two counts of operating under the influence causing death in connection with the Aug. 26, 2023 crash. Both of the girls who died were students at Mason High School.
The crash happened about 3 a.m. near the intersection of Sycamore and Schoolcraft streets in Holt. Police said Elijah Klages, then 18, was behind the wheel of a vehicle that struck two parked vehicles before crashing.
About a week after the crash, thousands of people paid tribute to the girls at a football game between Mason and DeWitt high schools, with people wearing the girls' favorite colors of green and blue. Balloons were released in tribute during the second half of the game.
When Elijah Klages pleaded guilty to two counts of operating under the influence causing death, a maximum 15-year felony, prosecutors dismissed two counts of careless driving causing death.
Elijah Klages told Draganchuk his actions that night were "a direct violation of my morals" and said he was ready to face the consequences.
"I know I'll carry this with me for the rest of my life," he said.
In lengthy victim impact statements, Amanda's parents, Dennis and Donna, described her as an excellent student who overcame dyslexia and other challenges. "Mandy," as she also was known, gave her shoes to another student while in the first grade, donated her birthday gifts to others and stuck up for kids who were being bullied, they said.
The loss of Mandy was compounded by the loss of Lily Klages, who was very close to the family, Donna Blue said.
Donna described Lily as "an amazing young lady" who she "loved like my own."
The consecutive sentences mean Klages will have to serve the terms one after the other. That means he'll have to serve a minimum of 10 years in prison. The judge also ordered that he pay $24,216 in restitution to Blue's father.
ContactKen Palmer at kpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on X @KBPalm_lsj.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Elijah Klages of Mason gets 10 years in prison for fatal crash
