Hockey game benefits teacher's son

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Benefit hockey games were held in honor of the first-grade teacher hit and killed by a drunken driver in November.

Aaron Haynes, who taught at Lincoln Heights Elementary in Greenville was on his way to work when an alleged wrong-way driver on East Beltline hit his car and killed him.

Haynes was 30 years old, and is survived by his wife, Jamie, and the couple's son, Riley. He played goalie for Grand Valley State's hockey team and stayed involved with the sport after graduation, competing on several local teams.

The benefit games were at Patterson Ice Center. All the funds raised will go to a trust account established for Riley. The rink donated the ice team and each team participating is trying to raise at least $1,000.

The public is invited to attend and make a donation at the door.

Anyone who can't attend and is interesting in donating can make checks payable to The Aaron Haynes Grand Valley Fund, account number 988089657. Checks can be dropped off at any branch of National City bank.

Leonel Franco-Avina, 38, was charged with second-degree murder and operating while intoxicated causing death. On Dec. 8, he waived his preliminary exam on the charges, meaning his case will now go to trial. His blood-alcohol level at the time of the crash, obtained by a search warrant, was .425 percent, more than five times the legal limit of .08 in Michigan.