A couple loses their lives in a horrific wrong-way crash caused by a man fleeing police in a stolen truck. Ryan Ambrosio, 45, and Jennifer Dormitorio Ambrosio, 43, of Farmington Hills died instantly when their SUV was struck head-on by Angel Melendez-Ortiz, 35, who is now facing a slew of charges including two counts of second-degree murder. The couple, parents to six young children, had been out on a date night before the tragedy unfolded, as reported by Freep.com.
The fatal incident took place near Civic Center Drive on the Lodge Freeway at 1:30 a.m. on Jan. 6. After refusing a traffic stop, Melendez-Ortiz led police on a high-speed chase, driving up to 100 mph without headlights before crashing into the Ambrosios' GMC Terrain. The funeral, gripping with inevitable sorrow, is set for Saturday at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, The Oakland Press notes.
In response to the devastating event, a GoFundMe page for the Ambrosio children has raised more than $512,000. Nationwide donors have poured their hearts and financial support into the family's immense loss, which was detailed in a Freep.com article.
During the arraignment on January 10, Melendez-Ortiz pleaded not guilty and was slapped with a $1.5 million cash bond, ensuring that justice demands a high bar for reckless abandon to life. This sent Melendez-Ortiz sprawling before a judge, where CBS Detroit reported his next appearance is scheduled for Jan. 24. "These are senseless deaths, and I have authorized the highest possible charges for this crime. We will pursue justice for these victims and their entire family, including their young children, and we will hold this defendant accountable," Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald was quoted as saying in a CBS Detroit article.
If convicted, Melendez-Ortiz could be facing up to life in prison for the second-degree murder charges, with additional charges of first-degree fleeing and eluding police causing death, reckless driving causing death, and operating a vehicle with a suspended or revoked license also causing death.
