Accused drunken driver charged with second-degree murder in five-car crash in Ypsilanti Township
Updated story: Ypsilanti Township man charged in fatal accident has history of drunken and reckless driving, court records show
An Ypsilanti Township man was charged with second-degree murder today for allegedly causing a five-car collision Tuesday that killed a woman and injured her two children.
Bradley Wayne Howard, 34, faces a litany of other charges in the 4:40 p.m. crash Tuesday at the intersection of Ecorse and Harris roads in Ypsilanti Township.
Bradley Wayne Howard
Other charges include operating while intoxicated causing death, operating while intoxicated causing serious injury, driving while license suspended causing death, driving while license suspended causing serious injury, operating while intoxicated, operating while his license was suspended, failing to stop at an accident causing death, failing to stop at an accident causing serious injury and having an open intoxicant in a motor vehicle.
Sgt. David Archer said the results of Howard's blood alcohol test were not yet available.
Howard was arraigned this afternoon in 14A District Court and is being held without bond. Police say his driver's license has been suspended since 2003.
Witnesses told deputies a 1995 Ford Mustang was traveling east on Ecorse Road at 60 to 80 miles per hour when it ran a red light and struck a 2002 Ford Taurus, pushing it into three other vehicles. The Taurus was traveling north on Harris Road and had a green light, investigators say.
Deputies say the driver of the Taurus, 32-year-old Stephanie Joyce Stone of Canton Township, died at the scene. Her 13-year-old son, who was a front-seat passenger in her car, was in critical condition but was expected to survive, police said. Her 11-year-old daughter, who was in one of the back seats, suffered minor injuries.
Howard faces a preliminary hearing Nov. 10.
Comments
Roadman
Mon, Nov 1, 2010 : 1:03 a.m.
Judge Archie Brown previously gave this fellow probation for a felony conviction. Brown, an Engler-appointee, faces re-election this Tuesday. He has no opposition, however a write-in vote against his candidacy would be symbolic and appropriate.
Snehal
Fri, Oct 29, 2010 : 9:52 a.m.
Spend some time to read this! Really touching! I was walking around in a store shopping, when I saw a Cashier talking to a boy couldn't have been more than 5 or 6 years old. The Cashier said, 'I'm sorry, but you don't have enough money to buy this doll. Then the little boy turned to me and asked: ''Mam, are you sure I don't have enough money?'' I counted his cash and replied: ''You know that you don't have enough money to buy the dolll, my dear.'' The little boy was still holding the doll in his hand. Finally, I walked toward him and I asked him who he wished to give this doll to. 'It's the doll that my sister loved most and wanted so much. I wanted to Gift her for her BIRTHDAY. I have to give the doll to my mommy so that she can give it to my sister when she goes there.' His eyes were so sad while saying this. 'My Sister has gone to be with God. Daddy says that Mommy is going to see God very soon too, so I thought that she could take the doll with her to give it to my sister.' My heart nearly stopped. The little boy looked up at me and said: 'I told daddy to tell mommy not to go yet. I need her to wait until I come back from the mall.' Then he showed me a very nice photo of him where he was laughing. He then told me 'I want mommy to take my picture with her so my sister won't forget me.' 'I love my mommy and I wish she doesn't have to leave me,but daddy says that she has to go to be with my little sister.' Then he looked again at the doll with sad eyes, very quietly. I quickly reached for my wallet and said to the boy. 'Suppose we check again, just in case you do have enough money for the doll?'' 'OK' he said,I hope I do have enough.' I added some of my money to his with out him seeing and we started to count it. There was enough for the doll and even some spare money. The little boy said: 'Thank you God for giving me enough money! ' Then he looked at me and added, 'I asked last night before I went to sleep for God to make sure I had enough money to buy this doll,so that mommy could give It to my sister. He heard me!'' 'I also wanted to have enough money to buy a white rose for my mommy, but I didn't dare to ask God for too much. But He gave me enough to buy the doll and a white rose.My mommy loves white roses.' I finished my shopping in a totally different state from when I started. I couldn't get the little boy out of my mind.. Then I remembered a local news paper article two days ago, which mentioned a drunk man in a truck, who hit a car occupied by a young woman and a little girl. The little girl died right away,and the mother was left in a critical state. The family had to decide whether to pull the plug on the life-sustaining machine, because the young woman would not be able to recover from the coma. Was this the family of the little boy? Two days after this encounter with the little boy, I read in the newspaper that the young woman had passed away.. I couldn't stop myself as I bought a bunch of white roses and I went to the funeral home where the body of the young woman was exposed for people to see and make last wishes before her burial. She was there, in her coffin, holding a beautiful white rose in her hand with the photo of the little boy and the doll placed over her chest. I left the place, teary-eyed, feeling that my life had been changed for ever. The love that the little boy had for his mother and his sister is still,to this day, hard to imagine.. And in a fraction of a second, a drunk driver had taken all this away from him. PLEASE DO NOT DRINK & DRIVE.
jjc155
Fri, Oct 29, 2010 : 9:15 a.m.
actually if the car is registered to someone else they could potentially be charged with allowing an unlicensed person to drive. its only a misd but there may be an enhancement to that if there is an accident causing death, but not positive about that part.
ViSHa
Fri, Oct 29, 2010 : 6:42 a.m.
@Cash, i do get what your saying but i think many people are responsible--i.e. spouses taking turns who gets to drink on a night out and who is the driver, especially as people get older--i definitely see it when i am out--having a sober driver. This guy was just a trainwreck waiting to happen--even forgetting about all his DWI's and suspended license, he beat someone with a baseball bat and violated a PPO against a mother of one of his NINE children by running her off the road (with a kid in his car, no less). Hopefully this Halloween weekend, people who are considering drinking and driving may think again with this deadly, preventable accident in their thoughts. Very Sad.
Cash
Fri, Oct 29, 2010 : 5:05 a.m.
stunshif, I agree with part of your post. Notice how people avoid the subject, though? So easy to throw out hate. But really a lot more difficult to look at our own behavior. It's true not many locals will have the record this man has. However that does not mean that they can't stay at a bar too long, be served too much, perhaps in a depressed state of mind and drive away with the best of intentions of going home......and hit and kill someone. It can happen and it does happen to people who don't have records and who aren't "monsters". Until we change behavior and attitude about alcohol.... no laws, no penalties will have any impact. Because this can't happen to me. I'm a nice person. I don't drink that much or that often. I've never even received a ticket. If you have a drunk driving accident with a fatality....none of the above matter any more. So, think BEFORE you drink. Because after the first drink, your thinking will not be clear and decisions to follow may change your life and the lives of your family forever.
Ricebrnr
Thu, Oct 28, 2010 : 8:13 p.m.
Too bad straw purchasing vehicles isn't illegal... No tools to go after them with.. Maybe in civil court.
CMT
Thu, Oct 28, 2010 : 8:07 p.m.
I believe you cant tag or plate a car if you dont have a license or it is suspended. Whoever that car was registered too should be held responsible too! This story is absolutely horrific... those poor kids that have lost a mother and for the kids of the guy who did it...
Chris
Thu, Oct 28, 2010 : 7:26 p.m.
In looking over the driving record I noticed a few things. First, I couldn't follow the report that well since it looks like the data was just kind of thrown at the paper. It's in two columns often with the same sentence wrapping from one column to the next. There's not a clear delineation of each record, it's all kind of jumbled together, and it seems redundant. Next, this guy's first DUI happened when he was 17. He's had at least 3. Many of the entries had to do with reaffirming the fact that his license was indeed suspended and has been for some 10 years off and on. Someone let him back into a car and I believe they should be held responsible, too.
Jenny
Thu, Oct 28, 2010 : 7:10 p.m.
Do you think it even matters if or to whom the car is registered?? I'm pretty sure this man's car not being registered is not going to deter him from driving it. Anyways, you do have to be a licensed driver to register a car in your name.
Chris
Thu, Oct 28, 2010 : 7:06 p.m.
I like how we still have to say "allegedly". It's not like there's a whole lot of investigation left to do. I'd hate to be the defense attorney on this one.
Urban Sombrero
Thu, Oct 28, 2010 : 7 p.m.
This is sad all around. I feel so bad for the victim, her kids and her family. But, this guy has a family who loves him, too. And, it sounds like he had an addiction that was out of his control. Alcoholism is a destructive, awful beast. Hopefully, he'll spend his time in prison clearing his head and becoming a better person.
stunhsif
Thu, Oct 28, 2010 : 6:48 p.m.
@cash, You and I never agree but this time I find equal ground regarding all the thousands of folks in Michigan "drinking at the bar" at this very moment. From my observations over the years, most wait staff don't quit serving a person until they are slurring their words or getting obviously tanked up. At that point, the bar patron is most likely well over the legal limit and a danger to themselves and the public if they drive. Common sense tells most of us that it makes no sense to have bars (beer and shot joints) that will serve folks alcohol until they are stupid only to have them drive home, but this is big business and big money for a lot of folks. The lawyers, the government and the bars all make big money, blood money one might say. I say, if you want to get tanked up do it at home or have a designated driver or take a taxi ride home. But too many people go to the bar with the intention of having one or two drinks till they run into folks they know and then 8 drinks later they are driving home. If we had the death penalty for drunk drivers that killed someone you would see drunk driving arrests drop significantly but that would reduce the states income, lawyers incomes (whether defense or trial attorneys), and insurance companies incomes. This is all about the money folks, nothing more or less!
Black Coffee :)
Thu, Oct 28, 2010 : 6:27 p.m.
It would be interesting to know where he was coming from, and The last few hours before The crash Just "curious". On the issue of the death penalty Where do I vote
ezbngreen
Thu, Oct 28, 2010 : 5:59 p.m.
With a record like his one could argue that he should be charged with 1st degree premeditated murder.
amlive
Thu, Oct 28, 2010 : 5:54 p.m.
ClickOnDetroit has a detailed article, photos, raw video, and a 9-page PDF of Bradley's driving record. http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/25528103/detail.html This is a terribly sad event. The above link mentions - "A memorial fund has been set up in Stone's honor to help pay for her funeral. Donations can be made under her name at any Key Bank location." Sounds like there are no funds or insurance to even cover a decent funeral. I hope the best for here children and husband.
jjc155
Thu, Oct 28, 2010 : 5:40 p.m.
@love-chances are that he either 1) refused breath and had to give blood. 2) opted for blood 3)not sure but there maybe even a requirment for blood in a accident like this causing death or 4) he was injured and was taken to the hospital thus it was easier and more accurate for WCSD to get blood, instead of taking back to the jail for the breath test AFTER he was treated. At any rate doesnt sound like he gave a breath test as those results are available immediately. Blood will take atleast 2-3 weeks from MSP crime lab.
Cash
Thu, Oct 28, 2010 : 5:20 p.m.
It's a lot easier to throw insults at this man rather than to think about how many people are sitting at the bars right at this moment, laughing and having a good time and then driving home. It always happens to someone else. Never to me.......... Think before you drink.
treetowncartel
Thu, Oct 28, 2010 : 5 p.m.
Riddle me this Batman, who is that 1995 Mustang registered to?
tommy_t
Thu, Oct 28, 2010 : 4:34 p.m.
So many lives just trashed needlessly. Nothing could put this into focus. Hopefully the state's justice will help the deceased's family ease their wounds.
Greggy_D
Thu, Oct 28, 2010 : 4:14 p.m.
Are sober speeders that cause an accident resulting in death also charged with second degree murder?
stevek
Thu, Oct 28, 2010 : 4:09 p.m.
What a fine citizen. In addition to his current/ongoing problems-- Carrying a weapon w/ unlawful intent and Felonious Assault 2 years ago. Fine citizen.
OldRUSHfan
Thu, Oct 28, 2010 : 4:09 p.m.
They always ask for my license when I renew....
ViSHa
Thu, Oct 28, 2010 : 4:05 p.m.
since 2003 is right. i wonder if it's his mustang and if he's been able to renew his plates every year--can you do that with a suspended license?
Barb
Thu, Oct 28, 2010 : 3:43 p.m.
Since 2003! Geez.
Atticus F.
Thu, Oct 28, 2010 : 3:42 p.m.
What a sad story. This guy sounds like a danger to society.
loves_fall
Thu, Oct 28, 2010 : 3:40 p.m.
That's interesting, the results of the blood alcohol test aren't back yet!