Fatal OWI case heads to circuit court
Brianna Hendrix, 29, killed in January 2020 crash
The case against a Pontiac man charged in a 2020 fatal drunk driving crash was bound over to Oakland County Circuit Court on Tuesday after the defendant waived his right to a preliminary exam in district court.
Judge Michael Martinez of 50th District Court advanced the case against Keith Singleton, Jr., who faces one count of operating while intoxicated causing death and two counts of operating while intoxicated causing serious injury for the Jan. 4, 2020 singlecar crash.
Brianna Hendrix, 29, of Pontiac was killed and two other passengers, ages 29 and 30 at the time, were injured, as was Singleton.
Prosecutors claim that Singleton was driving a Chevrolet Suburban while drunk when he ran through a stop sign at the intersection of South Boulevard and Sanford Street, crossed over railroad tracks and crashed through a chain link fence and into a set of concrete barriers near the ITC power facility.
Assistant Prosecutor Norma Chan said earlier that Singleton might have been drag racing prior to the crash and his blood alcohol content was .156 percent when measured soon afterward. She also said Singleton was convicted of operating while intoxicated in 2018.
A conviction of OWI causing death carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison while OWI causing serious injury is punishable by up to five years in prison. Thousands of dollars in fines can be imposed, as well.
Singleton is held in the Oakland County Jail, with bond set at $50,000. Arraignment is pending in Oakland County Circuit Court.