Man On Way Home From Work Killed In Head-On Crash Caused By Suspected Drunk Driver
LENOX TWP. (WWJ) - Authorities say a 38-year-old New Haven woman who crashed head-on into another vehicle, killing a man, was apparently speeding and driving erratically before the collision -- and alcohol might be to blame.
The accident happened around 12:20 a.m. Friday on 26 Mile Road at Place Road in Lenox Township.
Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said the woman was driving a Dodge Journey eastbound on 26 Mile Road when she crossed into the westbound lanes and crashed head-on into a Hyundai sedan.
A man driving the Hyundai, 34-year-old Kinjal Kaushik Patel, was killed in the crash. Police say Patel recently moved to Utica from Ohio. He was on his way home from working in Ira Township when the crash occurred.
The woman was initially trapped in her vehicle and had to be rescued by fire crews. She received non-life threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital.
Wickersham said a witness indicated that the woman was speeding and swerving in the moments before the crash.
"We have no independent witnesses to the actual crash," said Wickersham, "but we did have a witness stop prior to the crash, indicating that the female was driving erratically and driving left of center prior to the crash."
Wickersham said investigators also believe that alcohol could be a contributing factor.
"We'll have to have toxicology reports from both the hospital and the medical examiner's office to determine that," he said.
The crash remains under investigation. Charges are pending.
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