A tragic hit-and-run incident on Detroit's west side involving a food delivery driver has led to fatal consequences and a wave of legal charges. Joseph Edmond Stewart, 25, of Grand Blanc, is facing serious allegations after reportedly striking 56-year-old Delia Dinwiddie with his vehicle and failing to stop; this incident occurred while he was working for an online food delivery service, WWJ Newsradio reports. The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, led by Prosecutor Kym Worthy, confirmed on Monday that the incident took place on Saturday, June 8, just before 9 p.m. along Linwood Street.
Tragically, the intersection where this event unfolded holds personal historical weight, as Dinwiddie's mother was also killed by a vehicle there decades ago; according to FOX 2 Detroit, Delia's granddaughter shared that Delia harbored a longstanding fear of that intersection which marks the spot whereas an 11-year-old, she witnessed her mother's similar fate. Dinwiddie was transported to a hospital after being found by paramedics, who happened to be in the area, unfortunately, she succumbed to her injuries.
Stewart now faces multiple charges, among them Failure to Stop at the Scene of an Accident When at Fault – Causing Death, and Moving Violation Causing Death, these charges could carry a sentence of up to 15 years each as stated by officials. Following an investigation that involved license plate readers and green light cameras, authorities in Genesee County arrested Stewart, after which he was handed over to Detroit Police, as noted in an article by ClickOnDetroit.
"He could've at least stopped, turned around and looked. He just kept going, like she (was) nothing," Ronald Hudgins, Delia's husband, told FOX 2 Detroit in a poignant expression of grief and frustration, Hudgins has been grappling with the loss of his wife at the same intersection they first met over four decades ago. Stewart was arraigned in 36th District Court last Friday, where his bond was set at $100,000 his next court date, a probable cause conference is slated for June 25, a further legal reckoning awaits as the community reels from the event and the profound echoes of grief from an intersection marked by loss.
In the wake of the event, a GoFundMe campaign has been established to help cover funeral costs for the family. Detroit police hope that technological advancements like green light cameras will serve as deterrents for future incidents, although in this case, its efficacy lay in aiding the apprehension of a suspect after tragedy already struck, further stirring debates on safety, accountability, and the ever-growing gig economy these are stories written in the blood of citizens simply crossing the street and into the memory of a city, still grappling with healing.
