An unfortunate and deadly traffic incident in Shelby Township has led to the death of a mother and daughter, identified as Nancy Richmond, 88, and her daughter, Crystal Brunn, 63, after their vehicle was hit in a chain-reaction crash caused by a box truck driven by Jose Medina-Hernandez, 33, as reported by Hoodline.
Originally, Medina-Hernandez was cited in local reports as an unauthorized immigrant, but this was corrected by records from the Michigan Secretary of State's Office, which clarified that he is an asylum seeker, not an undocumented immigrant as was thought, during the tragic accident on M-53 near 22 Mile Road; he was charged with two counts of moving violation causing death, according to the Macomb Daily.
These charges come after a news release from the Shelby Township Police claimed Medina-Hernandez "had no legal status" in the United States, and allegedly caused the fatal four-car accident when failing to slow down in a construction zone on June 6, “First, I want to express my deepest sympathy to the victims and their family. This was definitely a preventable accident that took the lives of a loving mother and daughter. I am distraught over the fact that the suspect, Jose Eugenio Median-Hernandez was found to have no legal status in the country." Shelby Township Police Chief Robert Shelide told WWJ Newsradio 950, and these initial reports led to a wider discussion around his right to hold a Michigan driver's license, a fact that put law enforcement's statements into question.
The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office says Medina-Hernandez has since been held unable to post his $250,000 cash/surety bond, noted by The Detroit News.
The discrepancy over Medina-Hernandez's legal status prompted action from State Sen. Joseph Bellino, who questioned his licensing, the Michigan Department of State then confirmed Medina-Hernandez's status as an asylum seeker with the Department of Homeland Security and confirmed he did indeed have a valid Michigan chauffer’s license that authorizes him to operate a commercial vehicle under specific conditions – despite law enforcement and media initially reporting otherwise, the Michigan Secretary of State's office received no prior contact to verify the records before these claims were widely circulated, Michael Brady, chief legal director for the Michigan Department of State, emphasized the validity of the verification process, yet the public had already absorbed an inaccuracy that was directed toward a man who stands accused yet carries with him the burden of due process in the face of tragic human loss.
