Vigil Saturday for Riley and Nick Melanshek, victims of drunk driving crash
A candlelight vigil in memory of Riley Melanshek and Nick Melanshek is planned for this Saturday, Nov. 14, in Waterford Township.
Riley, 6, and her father Nick were killed last month after an alleged drunk driver crashed into their car on Oct. 14 while they were stopped at a traffic light on M-59 and Airport Road in Waterford. Riley died that day and Nick died Oct. 17 from injuries sustained in the crash.
The candlelight vigil is from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Waterford Parks and Recreation soccer fields, located on the township’s campus at 5200 Civic Center Drive, off Crescent Lake Rd. between M- 59 and Hatchery Road. Those attending are asked to wear blue and bring blue items in keeping with the theme of supporting drunk driving awareness.
Vigil sponsors are Schoolcraft Elementary School, Waterford Parks and Recreation, J. Beijing 7 Associates and Eagle Graphics.
The community has shown a strong outpouring of support so far, including $62,124 pledged through a GoFundMe account. The account organizer has disabled new donations.
Two counts each of second- degree murder, operating under the influence causing death and reckless driving causing death are filed against Trevor Duncan Taylor, 28, of Waterford, for the crash. He’s in the Oakland County Jail, with bond set at $1 million. Taylor’s next court date is scheduled for Nov. 30.