A 21-year-old man has been charged withsecond-degree murder in a crash on Detroit’s west side that killed a young girl and left four others hurt.
The incident occurred February 17 when the driver of a Chrysler Sebring sped through a stop sign and lost control of the vehicle. The car struck a parked car and smashed into a tree.
A three-year-old passenger in the car was killed. The driver and three other passengers – all of whom were minors – were taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
Speeding was cited as a factor in the tragedy. As of this time, alcohol or drugs have not been cited as factors. It appears most of the children were not wearing seatbelts or restrained in car seats, according to reports.
The driver – who was treated for his injuries and taken into police custody – was charged with:
- Second-degree murder
- Reckless driving causing death
- Three counts of reckless driving causing serious impairment.
If convicted, he could spend up to life in prison.
Following is from The Detroit News:
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said Stephen Holland of Detroit was speeding on the city’s west side at 1:20 PM Sunday with four passengers in his car when he allegedly blew through a stop sign and lost control of his car, causing it to crash near the intersection of Wildemere and Thatcher.
“When medics arrived at the scene of the crash, the defendant and the four passengers were conveyed to a local hospital for treatment,” according to a prosecutor’s office statement. The 3-year-old girl was pronounced dead on arrival.
“The three surviving passengers were seriously injured and remain in the hospital,” the prosecutor’s office said.
Second-degree murder is a wide-ranging category of crime as defined by the Michigan Penal Code. It can apply to situations where a person causes the death of another by knowingly creating a great risk of harm or death.
A Michigan criminal defense attorney can provide further information about charges such as second-degree murder and reckless driving.
