Detroit Man Accused In April Crash That Killed 2: Prosecutor

DETROIT, MI — A Detroit man has been accused in connection with a double fatal crash from April, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Shawn Patterson, 22, was arraigned Tuesday morning on two counts of reckless driving causing death, two counts of failing to stop at the scene of an accident causing death and two counts of moving violation causing death, prosecutors said.

"Fatal car crashes have increased exponentially over the past year, most as a result of carelessness, recklessness, or gross negligence by the driver that caused the event," Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said. "This is a disturbing trend that can be slowed if every driver follows the rules that they learned when they were first licensed. This must stop."

Prosecutors said Patterson was the driver of a vehicle that caused a crash that killed Leon Freeman, 26, of Hazel Park, and Teon Williams, 33, of Detroit, on April 26.

Patterson, prosecutors said, was driving south on Baylis Street toward Pilgrim Street when he disregarded a stop sign and crashed into a car driven by Freeman, with Williams as a front seat passenger.

Prosecutors said Patterson left the car and ran away from the scene. Police and medics arrived at the crash scene and pronounced the two victims dead at the scene, prosecutors said. Following an investigation, Patterson was arrested on May 19, prosecutors said.

Patterson will appear in court again on Friday for a probable cause conference, prosecutors said. Preliminary examination is slated for 9 a.m. June 3, prosecutors said. Both hearings will be before Judge Kenyetta Stanford-Jones in 36th District Court, prosecutors said.

Patterson received a $20,000 cash/surety bail, according to prosecutors.