A woman accused of killing two cyclists and injuring three others at a Make-A-Wish charity ride in Michigan did not seem to understand the seriousness of what happened, a prosecutor said.
The suspect identified as Mandy Benn, aged 42 years old, was charged with two counts of driving while intoxicated/under the influence of a controlled substance, causing death after colliding with a group of cyclists last Saturday on a charity ride.
The victims were identified as Edward Erickson, aged 48 years old, and Michael Salhaney, aged 57 years old.
Ionia County District Judge Raymond Voet ordered the woman to be placed behind bars on $1 million bail. Dollars.
In addition, Ionia County Prosecutor Kyle Butler told the judge that Benn admitted that he had used Adderall and Suboxone before the traffic accident, while authorities found a bottle of another prescription drug in your car.
The defendant was driving north on Stage Road in Ionia County’s Ronald Township when she passed a UPS truck and then struck southbound bicyclists, the prosecutor stated.
Benn told officers at the scene that the scene “almost seems real,” Bluter told the judge.
There were no signs that the woman slowed down or used the brakes before crashing into the bicyclists, the prosecutor reported. He added that Benn had a similar response when she was pulled over in 2017 for driving while she was visibly impaired.
In this case, her way of speaking was slower and she had problems following instructions, the prosecutor said. He also disclosed that she had a history of drug abuse.
For his part, the Chief Public Defender, Walter Downes, stated that his client had legally prescribed medication and said that the charges would be reduced once the results are completed. of blood tests. She had no alcohol in her veins, according to what the tests showed.
The prosecutor had requested a bond of 100,000 dollars, however, the judge set it at one million dollars. Voet said her deaths and injuries gave him a “big pause” in determining bail. While Benn’s attorney had asked between 25,000 Y 50,000 Dollars.
The charges against the woman are felonies of 15 years. A judge can order that sentences be served consecutively, that is, one after another and not all at the same time.
Benn had recently returned to her job at the Amazon distribution center near Grand Rapids after being off work with a hand injury, his attorney reported.
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