Police: ‘Drag racing’ led to chase, fatal crash

WARREN — Two Pontiac men face charges in the 37th District Court after an alleged race led to a police chase and a crash that killed a mother of two on June 29.

Damaree Terry and James Lamar Hudson, Jr., both 26, were arraigned July 3 and July 2, respectively, and charged with second-degree murder in the death of 42-year-old Katrina Michael, of Warren, who was riding in the vehicle Hudson hit while he was allegedly traveling at excessively high speeds in an area with a 40-mph speed limit.

Although Terry’s vehicle did not hit the black Jeep Cherokee in which Michael was a passenger, he continued to flee police.

At a press conference at the Christopher M. Wouters Police Headquarters on July 2, Warren police officials were joined by Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido and updated the media about the fatal crash they said resulted from drag racing. At that time, only Hudson had been arraigned.

According to police, Hudson, Terry and another driver were each driving Dodge Chargers as the three vehicles raced down Eight Mile Road west of Mound Road, headed westbound early on June 29. When the police pursuit began, one of the Chargers reportedly stopped while the vehicles driven by Hudson and Terry fled from police, as seen in a video shown at the press conference.

The police pursuit reportedly started around 1:34 a.m. on Eight Mile and lasted around 3 minutes, covering approximately four miles when it was terminated after Hudson’s Charger crashed into the Jeep that was attempting to turn left onto 10 Mile Road near Dei Street.

According to police, Terry continued to speed down the street after the crash.

Police performed CPR on Michael until the Hazel Park Fire Department transported her to the hospital where she later died, leaving behind two sons, ages 14 and 18.

“I want to emphasize that the suspect in this case made all the decisions here that led to this tragedy,” said Warren Police Commissioner Charles Rushton at the press conference. “The suspect involved here made a conscious decision to be drag racing on Eight Mile Road. They made a conscious decision to flee from police, and drive in such a reckless manner that unfortunately ended in the tragic accident of a 42-year-old woman losing her life.”

According to Rushton, speeding has increasingly become a problem in Warren and statewide.

“Every police car in Warren is now equipped with radar or a speed detection device to minimize the speeding problem,” Rushton said. “It is trying to curtail the problems we are having with the way people are driving now.”

Rushton cited sobering statistics on speeding in Michigan.

“Traffic-related deaths and traffic-related crashes are up over 2,000 from one year ago, just in speeding-related incidents,” he said.

From the video, Rushton estimated the speed of the Chargers as more than 100 mph.

“The way these people were driving their vehicle was a weapon,” Rushton said. “It is basically a 5,000-pound bullet driving down Eight Mile.”

Hudson was taken into custody at the scene. He was transported to the hospital for his injuries, which included two broken legs. The suspect had two passengers in his vehicle who were also taken to the hospital and released with minor injuries, according to police. The driver of the Jeep Cherokee reportedly suffered more serious injuries and was also transported to the hospital.

Terry was later arrested without incident at his place of employment in Auburn Hills.

Terry and Hudson were arraigned by Judge Michael Chupa in 37th District Court in Warren. In addition to being charged with second-degree murder, they were also charged with fleeing and eluding a police officer in the first degree, a 15-year felony; three counts of fleeing and eluding a police officer in the second degree, which is a 10-year felony; and three counts of reckless driving causing serious injury, a five-year felony.

The commissioner noted that speeding and drag racing are misdemeanor offenses.

Pleas of not guilty were entered on behalf of both suspects at their arraignment. Bond for each suspect was set at $1 million cash or surety only.

The attorneys of record for the defendants are Gary Kennedy II, representing Hudson, and Mariell Lehman, representing Terry. Calls were made to both attorneys but there was no response by press time.

A probable cause hearing was scheduled for Hudson at 8:45 a.m. July 16, after press time, and a preliminary exam is scheduled at 8:45 a.m. on July 23. Terry is scheduled for an 8:45 probable cause conference July 16 before Judge Chupa. No preliminary exam date was set for Terry at press time.