Preliminary exam held for Detroit woman charged in deaths of 2 women during car crash

Taneka M. Blanding charged with second-degree murder, other charges

DETROIT – A preliminary exam was held Tuesday in 36th District Court for a 35-year-old woman charged in the deaths of two women killed in a crash in Detroit in May.

It was the first time Taneka M. Blanding was in court since June 20 when she was charged with two counts of second-degree murder, operating while under the influence causing death, reckless driving resulting in death, operating while under the influence of intoxicants, operating a motor vehicle with a high blood alcohol level and open intoxicant in a motor vehicle.

RELATED: 2 dead after vehicle struck by driver who ran red light on Detroit's west side

Police claim on May 5 that Blanding was traveling at high speeds when she disregarded a red traffic signal and crashed into a Chrysler Town & Country at the intersection of Greenfield Road and Puritan Avenue.

The 35-year-old driver and 28-year-old passenger, both Detroit residents, were pronounced dead at the hospital.

One person was killed and another was critically injured in a crash May 5, 2018 on Detroit's west side. (WDIV)