Man gets 7 to 15 years for drunk driving crash that killed woman
Victim’s son speaks at sentencing: ‘My mom should not be gone so early’
“I should not be so young that I lost my mom because someone was drinking and driving. This should not have happened.”
These heartfelt — and heartbreaking — words are from the 9-year-old son of Brianna Hendrix, who lost her life at age 29 in a drunken driving crash in Pontiac early last year. Hendrix was one of three passengers in a Chevrolet Suburban driven by Keith Singleton on Jan. 4, 2020. Singleton had a blood alcohol content nearly twice the legal limit when he reportedly blew through a stop sign at the intersection of South Boulevard and Sanford Street, crossed over railroad tracks, and then crashed through a fence and into a set of concrete barriers near an ITC power facility. The other passengers and Singleton were injured.
On Tuesday, Singleton was sentenced by Oakland County Circuit Judge Jeffrey Matis to serve 7 to 15 years in prison for one count of operating while intoxicated causing death and 2 to 5 years for two counts of operating while intoxicated causing serious injury.
Hendrix was the mother of three, her youngest a toddler when she was killed. Her middle child, speaking at the sentencing hearing via Zoom, had asked the judge to put Singleton away for “30 to 40 years” for taking his mother from him.
“My mom was a great mom. My mom doesn’t get to come back. I was expecting my mom to come home, not get into an accident incident…my mom should not be gone so early.
“(Singleton) should be the one gone. I know that’s disrespectful, but that’s the truth…I’m not trying to be rude, but Keith had no care in the world my mom is gone. I’m sure Keith knew what he did did not make sense,” he said.
Singleton was sentenced within guidelines following a no contest plea in July on the charges as well as being a habitual offender.
Preventable tragedy
The child’s father, Robert Montgomery, also spoke at the sentencing hearing, telling the court that the crash was a “tragedy that was preventable” had Singleton learned his lesson from a prior drinking and driving offense. Singleton was convicted in 2018 of operating while intoxicated, a misdemeanor.
“I don’t believe he intended (for the crash to happen), but I don’t give a pass or forgiveness on that,” Montgomery said. “As adults, we are responsible for all lives in a car that we operate.”
Several families were hurt by Singleton’s actions, he said, adding “the ripple effect is major.”
In sentencing Singleton, Matis said it was “a tragic, tragic case. A young mother’s life was taken way too soon.”
Matis also referenced Singleton’s earlier drunk driving conviction, which he said was particularly concerning and reflected repetitive behavior. Along with the prison sentence, Singleton was ordered to pay $13,672 in restitution for damage to the ITC facility.
Prior to sentencing, Singleton declined to make a statement to the court, and had defense attorney William Hatchett speak on his behalf.
“Mr. Singleton wants me to express (to his victims) how remorseful he is for his behavior and how awful he feels about what happened,” Hatchett said.
Hatchett also said Singleton wants to assist in supporting Hendrix’s children after his sentence is completed. “He intends to help this family any way he can when he’s released from prison,” he said.