WARREN, Mich. – A teenage driver is expected to appear in court on Thursday and is going to be arraigned as an adult after police say he ran a red light while fleeing and crashed into an Oakland County father, killing him.
“This is a deeply troubling case,” Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido said. “The decision to charge a juvenile as an adult is never made lightly. In this matter, we proceeded with careful and thorough consideration of how to best uphold fairness and justice.
“We are dealing with a serious allegation involving a minor whose actions are believed to have caused the death of an innocent man, a man who was simply driving to support his family. Actions have consequences, and while youth is a factor, it does not erase accountability. Our role is to seek justice, and in this case, that means proceeding with the full weight of the law.”
The teen is expected to appear in court on July 17.
What happened
Roseville police said they tried to pull over a black Hyundai Sonata around 2:40 a.m. Saturday in the area of I-94 and Gratiot Avenue.
Officers said the Sonata had just been stolen from a neighborhood in a nearby city.
The 16-year-old Detroit driver didn’t stop, and police pursued him onto westbound I-696, then onto Hoover Road, and then onto 11 Mile Road, they said.
Roseville police said the fleeing driver ignored a red light at the intersection of 11 Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue. He crashed into the Ford Fusion being driven by Alex Habib, 28, of Madison Heights, police said.
Habib died from his injuries, leaving behind a 1-year-old daughter, a 3-month-old son, and his wife.
The Warren Police Department’s Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit is investigating the case. The Roseville Police Department is doing an internal review of the chase.
Injuries
Officers said they called paramedics and started to give aid to both drivers until they could be taken to the hospital.
Habib died at the hospital from his injuries, police said.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim’s family, our officers, and all who were involved in this tragic event,” Roseville police said in the release.
“This is a tragedy on many levels, and our sincere condolences are with the victim’s family and friends, (and) also, (with) our officers, who tragic events such as these take a toll on them,” the release says.
The 16-year-old who fled police was taken to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. He was treated and released.
Charges expected
Investigators believe the 16-year-old is part of an “organized crew targeting the residents of Macomb County,” the release says.
Detectives are working with Macomb County prosecutors, and criminal charges “will be forthcoming,” Roseville police said.
He’s currently being held at the Macomb County Juvenile Justice Center.
‘Just a great guy’
Family members told Local 4 that Habib got married to his wife, Danielle, just six months ago. The couple has a 1-year-old daughter, Eleanora, and 3-month-old son, Santiago.
“He was just a great guy,” father-in-law Dale Durant said. “Just loved everybody, you know? There’s not one person who can say a bad word about him. He was there for everybody.
“My grandkids -- just the light of his eye.”
Durant said Habib was working for Uber to make some extra money for his family.
“He was making ends meet,” Durant said. “He knew his obligations.”
Habib also worked as a server at Jim Brady’s Restaurant and Royal Oak. The owner of the restaurant, Tom Brady, said Habib was a beloved member of the team.
“Alex is just one of those guys that -- he just makes everything a little better,” Brady said. “He loves what he does. He loves taking care of people and he made a huge impact on all of us. It was a tragic, tragic loss. Our whole team, we’re just heartbroken.”
Family questions police chase
Habib’s family questioned why police were chasing the driver and what led to the crash.
“I know that my son-in-law is not standing here next to me over a stolen car,” father-in-law said. “That’s how I look at it, and it’s senseless.”
Donate to family
A GoFundMe page has been created to help Habib’s family with funeral expenses and to support his children.
Click here if you would like to donate.
