Ypsilanti Township woman charged with negligent homicide in fatal motorcycle crash
An Ypsilanti Township woman was charged with negligent homicide after authorities say she caused a crash that killed a motorcyclist in June.
Michelle Genee Booth, 49, was arraigned Wednesday on the charge and was released on a personal recognizance bond.
Michelle Booth
The crash occurred on June 24 about 8:15 p.m. near Michigan Avenue and Rawsonville Road in Ypsilanti Township.
Police said Dean Louis Devitis, 51, was riding his motorcycle westbound on Michigan Avenue when Booth failed to yield while driving north on Rawsonville Road. After the vehicle and motorcycle collided, the motorcycle burst into flames with Devitis trapped under it.
Two witnesses rushed over and pulled Devitis, of Westland, away from the motorcycle, but he was pronounced dead at the scene, reports said.
Booth was taken to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital with non-life threatening injuries, police said.
Booth faces up to two years in prison if convicted of the charge. She will return to court for a preliminary hearing Oct. 26.
Comments
Melody
Mon, Oct 4, 2010 : 9:36 a.m.
My husband has been riding a motor cycle for more than 40 years and has been almost hit many many times just because people do not pay attention.He has numerous friends who have lost their lives or maybe a leg because of careless driving. I do not feel sorry for this lady going to jail for this.There is no excuse for her. Two years is not nearly enough for the life she has taken. At least she will return to her family but Dean will never be able to do that.Very sad!!!!!
Cash
Sun, Oct 3, 2010 : 4:58 a.m.
Again, (over and over again) this is the problem with allowing comments to an article of this type. Understandably, there will be family members of the victim posting and their sentiments are painful and angry. They are suffering. Then there are people who will read judge this analytically. Neither is wrong. But the two do not mix. For the umpteenth time, comments should not be included in these articles.
djacks24
Sun, Oct 3, 2010 : 1:13 a.m.
My condolences to the family. My father was/is a motorcycle rider and has been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident (which would have just been a fender bender if he were in a car btw). I had always been told to drive defensively, but while on a bike, drive like others are out to kill you. Sadly, while there is no excuse for the negligence of the driver at fault, if the motorcyclist had been driving a car his chances of living through this and not perishing in such a horrible way would have been much greater. Partly due to this, I've never owned a motorcycle and while driving I try to stay as far away from motorcycle and bicycles as possible. BTW, where exactly do US-12 and Rawsonville cross?
Heaven
Sun, Oct 3, 2010 : 12:56 a.m.
After reading some of these comments I am sick to my stomach. I am really losing faith in the human race. Dino was a great man with an awesome family and for someone to take him away like he was isn't a "mistake" it was "NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE" People need to think before they comment, the family is grieveing and trying to come to terms with this nightmare, the person that caused this should be brought to justice, NOBODY should be making excuses for her because there just isn't any good excuse for being careless. 5 more seconds out of her life to stop at the stop sign could have pervented this tragic chain of events.
bob
Sat, Oct 2, 2010 : 6:44 a.m.
Police no longer call an incident such as this an accident. It is called a car crash. An accident may be by chance but a car crash is considered avoidable if the driver had exercised due caution, making a proper stop, driving at a safe distance, not driving too fast for conditions, etc. My condolences to the Devitis family. It is also a tragedy for the driver but at least she has time to feel regret & be comforted by her family, Mr Devitis does not.
Ricebrnr
Sat, Oct 2, 2010 : 6:27 a.m.
In the gun culture we have a saying: Negligence is no accident.
Cash
Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 7:07 p.m.
Looking for reasons for this accident is not making excuses for the driver or taking away from the value of either person's life. We know it was an accident. So if we know the reasons it could prevent it from happening to someone else. This cannot be reversed. But it might be possible to help someone else. Life isn't fair and the older we get the more we realize that. Tragedy can happen in a split second and impact so many lives. We have had many fatal accidents in the area over the years...involving cars, bikes and motorcycles. There are varying reasons for them I'd assume. Sometimes we hear about the reasons in the media, and sometimes we don't. But drivers are quick to forget that the next time, it could be them....and we can tell that they forget by the way they drive!!! Perfection isn't a human trait.
Michigan Reader
Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 6:34 p.m.
Two years max for the death of someone may not seem like much, but many factors go into the sentence. The sentence for any crime is graduated based on many factors, like prior record, or any mitigating or aggravating circumstance. As one former attorney said in an article in the Ann Arbor News, negligent homicide is the only felony where intent isn't an element of the offence.
djm12652
Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 2:21 p.m.
@Ms. DiMascio...my sincere condolences to you and your family for the great loss of your brother.
Debbie DeVitis DiMascio
Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 2:11 p.m.
I would like to say that this is my brother you are speaking about. He was a good man, a professional driver, and this was very tragic for our family. This may have been an accident, but when we all get behind the wheel of a vehicle we take on an awesome responsibility not only to keep ourselves safe, but other drivers as well. Just because he was driving a motorcycle, doesn't give anyone a free pass not to pay attention. And motorcyclists have rights too. We put people in jail for far longer for theft and drug related crimes. This was his life. He left behind a wife, three daughters and family that loved him tremendously. Don't take away the value of his life by making excuses for others. Think before you post and if you're not involved, don't open your mouth.
Cash
Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 1:14 p.m.
I remember this accident and remember that after it, the mowers were out on the Michigan Ave median cutting the grass and weeds! I am wondering if she could not see that motorcycle. She either made a mistake or couldn't see clearly...regardless I don't think anyone thinks she did it intentionally. Look at some of the sentences people get when they intentionally harm someone. Pretty short. In this case it was accidental. Don't be so fast to condemn her.
thatstoobad
Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 12:29 p.m.
How sad for everyone involved. I can't imagine.
BobbyTarsus
Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 11:44 a.m.
The bottom line: keep your eyes on the road, don't let pride or being in a hurry cause you to do something dangerous. Whenever I drive the busy streets of Ypsi or A2, I see people doing dangerous maneuvers All the time. Please slow down or use your better logic. Life is too frail.
Lokalisierung
Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 11:21 a.m.
"Sure but none of my mistakes have cost anyone their life let alone caused any insurance claims." Mine have, it happens. Sad story.
Ricebrnr
Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 11:11 a.m.
Sure but none of my mistakes have cost anyone their life let alone caused any insurance claims.
Woman in Ypsilanti
Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 10:36 a.m.
It makes sense to have different punishments for different crimes. Failing to yield, even if it results in someone's death, is a lot different than murdering someone. I don't know the circumstances of this case but unless she was drunk or something, she may have simply made a mistake while driving. How many of us can say we've never done the same thing?
diagbum
Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 10:32 a.m.
Trapped under a flaming motorcycle. What a horrible way to perish.
Barb
Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 10:15 a.m.
Negligent homicide carries a maximum sentence of 2 years (and/or a fine). Not anything more they can do with that charge.
DFSmith
Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 9:56 a.m.
Only 2 years for causing the death of another human being?