Woman charged with drunken driving in crash that injured 3 passengers enters not guilty plea
A 21-year-old Detroit woman charged with drunken driving in a crash last fall that injured three passengers in Lodi Township entered a not guilty plea Tuesday and remains free on bond.
Amber Rae Baldwin waived a preliminary examination Tuesday in Washtenaw County 14A District Court and a judge sent her case on to trial court. A pre-trial hearing was scheduled for Aug. 2 before Judge Donald Shelton.
Washtenaw County Sheriff’s spokesman Derrick Jackson said Baldwin lost control of a car about 2:50 a.m. Oct. 9 on Ann Arbor-Saline Road and hit a tree, resulting in injuries to her passengers. Police have declined to release information on Baldwin’s blood-alchohol level at the time of the crash.
She is charged with operating while intoxicated causing serious injury, a 5-year felony; and 2 misdemeanors, operating while intoxicated and violating license restrictions.
Baldwin replied to simple yes or no questions before a judge Tuesday, but said little before entering a not guilty plea.
Sheriff's deputies investigating the crash said Sara Ann Meshigaud of Ann Arbor, a friend of Baldwin who was sitting in the back seat, suffered substantial head trauma. A 25-year-old Twin Lake man, who also was in the back seat, was ejected and injured. A third passenger, a 20-year-old man sitting in the front passenger seat, walked away with minor injuries.
Meshigaud filed a lawsuit in Washtenaw County Circuit Court in December against Baldwin and the car’s reported owner, Cherie Ann Ray, seeking an unspecified amount of money. The suit alleges Baldwin was negligent by driving at an excessive rate of speed, failing to yield the right of way and driving under the influence.
Meshigaud’s suit also claims she suffered a severe brain injury and was left in a coma after the accident. It alleges Ray was negligent by allowing Baldwin to drive, knowing Baldwin had a history of negligent driving.
A court date for that case is pending.
Heidi Fenton covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at heidifenton@annarbor.com or 734-623-4673. You also can follow her on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's e-mail newsletters.
Comments
LandPirate
Wed, Jun 22, 2011 : 2:42 p.m.
All you negative people.... i bet you wouldnt/couldnt say that stuff to her in person.
Bertha Venation
Wed, Jun 22, 2011 : 8:57 p.m.
ya. me too.
trs80
Wed, Jun 22, 2011 : 2:46 p.m.
When is the court date? I would be happy to sit and laugh at the drunk going to jail.
Chris 8 - YPSI PRIDE
Wed, Jun 22, 2011 : 12:45 p.m.
The reason the passenger's lawyer is attempting to hold the owner of the car responsible equals nothing but "MONEY". The owner of the car has the insurance. The insurance company is the deep pocket in a situation like this. Perhaps if there were laws passed that anyone holding a license to drive be required to have some sort of insurance to keep the license, this would decrease insurance premiums for car owners. No one thinks twice about handing their keys over to a relative or friend, until there are consequences. The owner of any car risks losing the shirt off his or her back when allowing someone else to drive their car. My personal policy when it comes to use of my car is "Don't even bother asking". Period the end.
Bertha Venation
Wed, Jun 22, 2011 : 2:49 p.m.
I NEVER lend my car out to anyone, for this very reason.
actionjackson
Wed, Jun 22, 2011 : 11:36 a.m.
I would rather let Ray Charles or Stevie Wonder drive than get in a passenger seat with a drunk!
Roadman
Tue, Jun 21, 2011 : 9:55 p.m.
I would like to point that there is a body of case law in this state that indicates that it can constitute comparative negligence for civil liability purposes for someone to get into a vehicle and allow a driver whom they have reason to believe is intoxicated to drive them around.
smokeblwr
Tue, Jun 21, 2011 : 9:47 p.m.
Suing the owner of the car is ridiculous. If thats the way the world works then I think Ms Meshigaud should also consider suing herself for getting into a car with a driver who was under the influence.
Barb's Mom
Tue, Jun 21, 2011 : 11:31 p.m.
@ Landpirate--If Sara "got into a car so drunk she doesnt remember half the day" how can she " alleges Baldwin was negligent by driving at an excessive rate of speed, and failing to yield the right of way" It seems she has selective memory. The article also doesn't give Sara's age. Was she of legal age to drink?
LandPirate
Tue, Jun 21, 2011 : 10:57 p.m.
You Dont know what Sara went through that night. Getting into a car so drunk she doesnt remember half the day. Sara has already 'sued' herself through the injuries She has acquired. I see her very often and its pretty awful seeing her go through all this.
smokeblwr
Tue, Jun 21, 2011 : 10:35 p.m.
Yes, I am aware of that. I just believe it to be ridiculous.
Roadman
Tue, Jun 21, 2011 : 9:52 p.m.
Under Michigan law the registered owner of a motor vehicle may be sued under the Civil Liabilty Act for negligent acts and omissions of permissive operators of the car in question.