Search fatalities

Katelyn Jo "Katie" Robinson

Age : 20

Gender : Female

Race : White

Date : 06/17/2021

Location : Ashmun Street near West 20th Avenue/M-129, near Guido’s Pizza

City : Sault Ste. Marie

County : Chippewa

State : Michigan

Agency : Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office; Sault Ste. Marie Police Department

Officer(s) :Unknown

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Bystander killed by police chase crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

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REASON WHY PURSUIT WAS INITIATED: Multiple 911 callers reported a Ford F-350 being driven recklessly at high speed, leaving the roadway, striking mailboxes, entering oncoming traffic, nearly hitting motorists, and pursuing another motorist after the driver allegedly threw a tire iron toward that vehicle.
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NARRATIVE:
On 06/17/2021, at approximately 7:59 p.m., Chippewa County Central Dispatch began receiving multiple 911 calls concerning a dual-wheel Ford F-350 pickup truck being driven recklessly northbound on M-129 from the Pickford area toward Sault Ste. Marie. Callers reported that the truck was traveling at high speed, leaving the roadway, striking mailboxes, entering the oncoming lane and nearly hitting other motorists. Another caller reported that near M-129 and M-80 the truck cut off a motorist, stopped abruptly, and its driver threw a tire iron toward the other vehicle before chasing that motorist at high speed. Dispatch issued a be-on-the-lookout alert to law enforcement.
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A Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office deputy located the Ford F-350 traveling northbound on M-129 near 8 Mile Road. The deputy activated emergency lights and siren and attempted to stop the truck. The driver continued northbound and the deputy initiated a pursuit. According to evidence later presented at trial, the deputy saw the truck repeatedly enter the southbound lane, force additional vehicles from the roadway and nearly crash several times. The pursuing deputy reported speeds exceeding 90 mph. As the pursuit approached Sault Ste. Marie, the deputy radioed that the vehicles were approaching 3 Mile Road northbound at approximately 90 mph.
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Sault Ste. Marie Police Department officers moved toward Ashmun Street as the pursuit approached the city. At least one Sault Ste. Marie officer positioned a police vehicle at Ashmun Street and West 19th Avenue with emergency lights and siren activated. Public records reviewed do not identify the Chippewa County deputy conducting the pursuit or the Sault Ste. Marie officer positioned ahead of it.
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Katelyn Jo “Katie” Robinson, 20, had finished work and was traveling northbound on Ashmun Street in a Volkswagen Beetle. Robinson pulled onto the shoulder near Guido’s Pizza as the pursuit approached. The Ford F-350 struck the rear of Robinson’s Volkswagen at extremely high speed. Evidence subsequently presented during the criminal prosecution established an impact speed of approximately 88 mph. Prosecutors argued that the collision was a deliberate act rather than an accidental loss of control.
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The impact propelled Robinson’s Volkswagen into a utility pole and ejected her from the vehicle. The Ford continued northbound after striking her car, crossed the intersection, struck roadside infrastructure and parked vehicles, and ultimately crashed into the Great Lakes Recovery Center. Contemporary accounts reported damage to a stop sign, utility equipment and three parked vehicles during the final crash sequence. Police, firefighters and emergency medical personnel attempted emergency aid to Robinson, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. The fleeing driver sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported to War Memorial Hospital.
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The Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office investigated the fatal crash with assistance from the Sault Ste. Marie Police Department, Sault Tribe Police Department, Sault Ste. Marie Fire Department and Chippewa County Central Dispatch. Detective Sgt. Douglas Mitchell of the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office was subsequently identified as the lead investigator. Sault Ste. Marie Police Detective Phillip Donnay also assisted with the later criminal investigation and prosecution. The prosecution presented testimony from 31 witnesses and 33 exhibits during the five-day murder trial.
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DISPOSITION:
The fleeing driver was Tanner Dunbar Harrison. Harrison's severe crash injuries initially resulted in findings that he was incompetent to stand trial, delaying prosecution for nearly two years. Harrison subsequently relocated to Virginia. Authorities located him there and conducted further investigation concerning whether he had regained competency. Harrison was extradited to Michigan and underwent additional court-ordered competency proceedings.
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Harrison was formally charged in September 2023 with second-degree murder in Robinson’s death and received a fourth-habitual-offender notice. Bond was denied. On 01/16/2026, following a five-day jury trial in Chippewa County Circuit Court, Harrison was convicted of second-degree murder. On 03/24/2026, Circuit Judge James P. Lambros sentenced Harrison to 60 to 90 years in the Michigan Department of Corrections.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
The Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office deputy who initiated and conducted the high-speed pursuit has not been publicly identified in the available records reviewed. The Sault Ste. Marie officer positioned at Ashmun Street and West 19th Avenue also has not been publicly identified. Complete.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.miningjournal.net/news/front-page-news/2021/06/20-year-old-killed-in-chippewa-co-traffic-crash/
https://www.sooleader.com/local-news/driver-in-collision-killing-saultite-katie-robinson-charged-7620318
https://www.sooleader.com/local-sports/phenomenal-person-sault-remembers-katie-robinsons-legacy-6511604
https://www.sooleader.com/local-news/third-annual-katie-robinson-memorial-showcase-this-weekend-8218545
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/sooeveningnews/name/katelyn-robinson-obituary?id=17003537
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/228742507/katelyn_jo-robinson
https://www.echovita.com/us/obituaries/mi/sault-sainte-marie/katelyn-robinson-12911083
https://www.facebook.com/saultanimalhospital/posts/as-many-of-you-know-there-was-a-tragic-car-accident-late-last-week-that-led-to-t/4747221338630592/
https://www.facebook.com/downtownsault/posts/katie-and-her-teammates-recently-volunteered-with-us-at-downtown-sault-were-sad-/3762781917160701/