Leelanau County, MI — A 71-year-old Traverse City man has entered a no-contest plea in connection with a drunk driving crash on M-22 that claimed the life of a volunteer lighthouse keeper and left others seriously injured, court records show.
Kenneth Edward Marotzke appeared today in 13th Circuit Court in Suttons Bay, where he pleaded no contest to charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death and operating a vehicle under the influence of liquor causing serious injury arising from the September 10, 2025 collision.
Details of the Crash
According to court documents and police reports, the crash occurred around 11:30 a.m. on September 10, 2025, on South West Bayshore Drive near Walters Drive in Leelanau County. Marotzke was driving a 2025 Chevrolet pickup truck southbound when the vehicle crossed the centerline and collided head-on with a northbound 2019 Honda Civic.
The driver of the Honda, 61-year-old Ronald Leo Bellman of Ohio, died from injuries sustained in the crash. Bellman had been serving as a volunteer lighthouse keeper at Mission Point Lighthouse on Old Mission Peninsula alongside his wife when the fatal collision occurred. Three passengers in the Honda were seriously injured and transported to Munson Medical Center for treatment.
According to Michigan State Police and local news reports, when Marotzke’s truck crossed the center line and struck the northbound SUV, the driver of that SUV — 61-year-old Ronald L. Bellman — was killed in the collision.
In addition to Bellman’s death, three passengers in the Honda were injured and taken to Munson Medical Center for treatment.
- One of the injured passengers was Bellman’s wife, Mary, who was in the SUV with him. She survived the crash and received medical care after being transported from the scene.
- The identities and specific conditions of the other two injured passengers have not been publicly released in the reporting available so far, which is typical in serious crash coverage unless families choose to share details.
All three injured passengers were treated at Munson, but officials have not provided additional public updates about their injuries or recovery since the initial reports
Plea and Charges
Marotzke accepted the plea without admitting guilt, meaning he accepts sentencing for the crimes but does not formally acknowledge responsibility. As part of a plea bargain, additional counts of operating under the influence causing serious injury and open container charges were dismissed by prosecutors.
At an earlier hearing, a judge released Marotzke on a $150,000 personal recognizance bond, though conditions were imposed to revoke his driving privileges and require regular drug and alcohol testing.
Next Legal Steps
Marotzke’s next scheduled court appearance will be for sentencing, which has not yet been set. Prosecutors have indicated that family members of the deceased and injured victims will be allowed to address the court during that hearing to share how the crash has affected their lives.
Community Impact
The fatal collision highlighted ongoing concerns about impaired driving and road safety in northern Michigan. Law enforcement officials have repeatedly urged drivers to avoid driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and to make safe travel a priority, particularly on scenic but busy routes like M-22.
The no-contest plea brings the case one step closer to closure, but the memory of those lost and harmed in the crash continues to resonate with the local community.
