Case advances against teen charged in crash that killed high schoolers
The case against a teenager facing felony charges for a vehicle crash that killed two passengers and injured a third, also teens, has been bound over to Oakland County Circuit Court for possible trial.
Judge Cynthia Arvant recently advanced the case at the conclusion of a preliminary exam in
46th District Court.
Ramone Cortez Hampton, 18, is charged with two counts of reckless driving causing death and one count of reckless driving causing serious impairment of bodily function for a Sept. 18, 2020 rollover accident on Telegraph Road in Southfield that took the lives of DeRell Blackmon, 17, and JaQai Garrett, 16, who were students at Oak Park High School, and caused injuries to another.
According to Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren, Hampton was behind the wheel of a Cadillac SRX, travelling in excess of 100 mph along northbound Telegraph Road when he lost control of the vehicle just south of 10 Mile Road. The vehicle left the roadway, went airborne, struck several trees and rolled multiple times before landing in a wooded culvert. Witnesses said the speeding vehicle had changed lanes multiple times before the crash, Barren said.
Four of the six occupants were ejected from the Cadillac, and two of them were trapped under a tree when emergency help arrived, Barren said.
Hampton turned himself in for arrest and arraignment after charges were filed Dec. 10, 2020. His bond conditions include house confinement except for court appearances, attorney visits, medical appointments, work, school and church. Arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 23 before Oakland County Circuit Judge Phyllis McMillen.