SOUTH HAVEN, Mich. — A 40-year-old Wyoming man is facing felony charges in connection with the fatal Jan. 17 pileups on I-94.
Timothy Martinez was charged Friday with two counts of reckless driving causing death and two counts of reckless driving causing serious impairment of a bodily function, according to Michigan State Police. He faces a total of 40 years in prison if convicted on all charges.
Police said in a release that Martinez was driving a commercial vehicle eastbound at the time of the crash.
The eastbound crash happened at roughly 2 p.m. on I-94 near Hartford. Police say nine vehicles were involved in the crash before two semi-trucks collided, causing a pileup of more than 40 cars and trucks.
About 10 minutes later, another crash involving 12 vehicles occurred in the westbound lanes.
Carol Griesemer, 78, of Northville was killed in the eastbound crash. Her son, 54-year-old Andrew Griesemer, died Jan. 24 as a result of his injuries.
State police say 14 other people were injured in the crash, includinga Van Buren County Sheriff’s deputy who was helping others at the scene.
Michigan State Police said a total of 20 drivers were cited.
Fifteen of those cited were involved in the eastbound crash, including two people who were driving commercial vehicles, according to a release. Two additional commercial vehicle drivers were among the five cited in the westbound crash.
Police say drivers were going too fast in white-out conditions.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
