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Driver, 31, faces jail time for crash injuring Patterson

The driver who allegedly caused a crash that resulted in serious injuries to Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson could face up to three months in jail.

The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office last week announced three misdemeanor charges of committing a moving violation resulting in serious impairment of a bodily function against 31-year-old Royal Oak resident Anthony Prainito, the driver of a Volkswagen Passat that collided with the Chrysler 300 Patterson, 73, was riding in during the Aug. 10 crash at the intersection of Walton Boulevard and Opdyke Road in Auburn Hills.

Patterson, who Auburn Hills police said was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident, suffered a broken femur, broken hip, two broken wrists and a laceration to his forehead. Patterson’s driver, 60-year-old Jim Cram, also suffered serious injuries.

“The driver of the other vehicle has been charged with negligent driving causing serious injury to Brooks, Jim, and the passenger of the other car,” said Deputy County Executive Gerald Poisson in a statement. “The Executive Office thanks Auburn Hills police for their professionalism in conducting a thorough investigation. This matter is now in the hands of the courts.”

Prainito and his passenger, identified last week as 51-year-old Raymond Recchia — who was the only person wearing a seatbelt in the accident — were also injured in the crash.

The Prosecutor’s Office stated that under the circumstances of the case, it cannot issue a civil infraction citation to any of the three who were unrestrained in the crash because under state law, most civil infractions are initiated by the law enforcement officials writing the citation.

Patterson, first elected as Oakland County executive in 1992 after serving 16 years as the county prosecutor, remains in McLaren Oakland Hospital in Pontiac recovering from the injuries that required three surgeries to repair, according to Bill Mullan, the county’s media and communications officer.

Police said it appears that the Volkswagen failed to yield the right-of-way, causing the crash. Police also said they did not suspect alcohol or drugs to be a factor in the accident.

Patterson’s vehicle, driven by Cram, was traveling eastbound on Walton when it entered the road’s intersection with Opdyke on a green green traffic signal. It struck the Passat driven by Prainito.

3 Responses to Driver, 31, faces jail time for crash injuring Patterson

  1. AJ

    August 31, 2012 at 12:00 pm

    “The Prosecutor’s Office stated that under the circumstances of the case, it cannot issue a civil infraction citation to any of the three who were unrestrained in the crash because under state law, most civil infractions are initiated by the law enforcement officials writing the citation.

    Here’s an easy way to get around that: Tell the law enforcement officials to actually write the citations already! We all know that Patterson, Cram and Prainit weren’t wearing their seat belts and they should be charged for not doing so just like anyone else would be.

    The “Click It Or Ticket” campaign should be applied fairly to everyone in the state – including our elected representatives and their chauffeurs!

    No one should be above the law!

    And obviously, if everyone had been buckled up, their injuries wouldn’t have been so severe.

  2. One Life

    September 2, 2012 at 7:37 am

    Tony Prainito should not have had any of those charges brought against him by ANY prosecuting attorney. Michigan Law states that when a car is speeding, they waive the right of the other car to yield. Patterson’s chauffeur (paid for by OUR TAX DOLLARS!!!!!) was going, at minimum, 9 miles over the posted speed limit.

    THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS!

    Also, Brooks is on short-term disability right now. The Executive Office has stated he is still running the County’s business. ACK. He is on multiple meds, on short-term disability (which makes it illegal for him to work), and he’s “running” the business of the County?????

    Are they going to inflate a human dummy and prop him up to make a YouTube video for the November election too?

  3. crazy townie

    September 2, 2012 at 4:22 pm

    “Are they going to inflate a human dummy and prop him up to make a YouTube video for the November election too?”

    If it maintains our bond rating and keeps Oakland as the #1 county in the state…why not?

    Sen. John McCain once stated that if Alan Greenspan ever died, he’d prop him up at the Federal Reserve “Weekend at Bernie’s” style. I would be in favor of that for Brooks when the time comes.

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