Recent Posts in Vehicle Crimes Category

A Clinton Township man has been arrested on hit & run charges after hitting a Rochester Hills sheriff deputy’s patrol car and driving away.

As the deputy was living an accident scene he had responded to, the suspect hit the deputy’s patrol car on the back rear panel and drove away.

Neither the suspect nor the deputy was injured.

With help from the Sterling Heights Police Department the deputy was able to track the suspect to his home, where he was placed under arrest.

The suspect is currently being held in the Oakland County jail for  operating while intoxicated and fleeing and eluding.

If you have been arrested for OWI, hit & run, or any other serious traffic offense, an experienced Michigan traffic ticket attorney can help. Unlike a regular traffic ticket, these offenses warrant criminal charges that can land you in jail, strip you of your driving privileges, and result in a mark on your permanent record.

To ensure you have the aggressive defense you need against your charges, please  contact the Law Offices of Freedman & Freedman today at (877) TKT-LAWS!

A Troy woman has been charged with negligent homicide in connection with a fatal auto accident that left her passenger dead.

The accident occurred back in December when the driver, 19-year-old Paige Yoo-Na Vella, made an unlawful left turn under a blinking red light. As Vella was making the turn her car was hit on the passenger side by an SUV. Her passenger, 17-year-old Kristen Wilhelm, also from Troy, was critically injured. She had to be extricated from the vehicle and was rushed to Royal Oak Beaumont Hospital. She died the next day. 

Vella suffered only minor injuries in the accident, as did the 19-year-old driver of the SUV. There were two other passengers in the SUV, but neither person was injured.

After investigating the accident, the Troy Police Department determined that alcohol and drugs were not a factor in the accident.

Vella is scheduled to appear back in court February 17. She has since been released on $5,000 bond. If she is found guilty of the charges she could be sentenced to two years in prison and a $2,000 fine.

There is no reason why anyone should be charged with hit and run.  That being said, we understand why many people throughout Wayne and Oakland Counties are arrested and charged with this crime every year.  After an accident, especially if there are injuries or deaths, it’s understandable that people might feel scared.  They don’t want to go to jail, so they drive away from the scene, hoping they won’t get caught. Unfortunately, most people are eventually tracked down and arrested.  Other people simply freak out and run away, unable to deal with the magnitude of what has just happened.  Other people run because they can’t afford to pay for the damage to the vehicles or the medical bills of those injured.  In other cases people flee the scene, but then want to come forward and turn themselves in, however, they don’t because they are scared they will face criminal charges for running away. 

The point is, there are a number of reasons why people hit and run, but that’s no excuse. If you were involved in an auto accident, do not flee the scene.  Instead, exchange information with the other parties involved.  If you get arrested, which is likely if you were driving under the influence or you caused a serious or fatal accident, then contact our firm for experienced defense representation. Just because you have been arrested does not necessarily mean you will be convicted. There are a number of effective defense strategies we can use to help you fight your charges and negotiate for reduced charges or penalties. Trust us when we say that running from the scene of an accident only makes your situation worse, as you will not only be charged for drunk driving, vehicular manslaughter, reckless driving, etc., but you will now also face enhanced penalties for the hit & run. 

If you have been charged with hit and run in Oakland County or Wayne County, contact an experienced Michigan criminal defense attorney at the Law Offices of Freedman & Freedman today by calling (877) 858-5297!