UP Highway to Commemorate Fallen State Trooper

A stretch of highway in the southern Upper Peninsula will be dedicated to the memory of a fallen Michigan State Police trooper today.

The five-mile segment of US-41 and US-2 between Bark River and Hyde, west of Escanaba, will be christened the Darryl M. Rantanen Memorial Highway. 

Rantanen was killed along that road May 27th, 1974. The patrol car in which he was riding was forced off the road while pursuing a stolen vehicle. His partner, who was driving the car, was seriously injured. The 16-year-old driver of the stolen car was captured, and sent to prison.

Legislation naming the highway after Rantanen was introduced by State Representative Beau LaFave, and signed into law by Governor Gretchen Whitmer a year ago today.