Man, 19, Charged In Detroit Crash That Killed 9-Year-Old Girl: Prosecutor

DETROIT — A 19-year-old man is facing charges in connection with a crash that killed a child and injured a woman in Detroit last week, according to prosecutors.

The crash happened last Friday around 9:30 p.m. near the intersection of Tireman Avenue and Southfield Road where 9-year-old Fatoumatu Diallo was killed, according to prosecutors.

Gregory Bester Louis Austin was charged with reckless driving causing death, reckless driving causing serious impairment, driving with a suspended license and causing a death, as well as driving with a suspended license and causing a serious injury.

He was placed in jail with a $50,000 bond. His next court date is scheduled for March 11.

If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison for reckless driving causing death, up to 5 years for reckless driving causing serious impairment, up to 15 years for driving with a suspended license and causing a death and up to 5 years for driving with a suspended license and causing a serious injury.

Prosecutors said Austin was speeding on the Southfield Freeway Service Drive and ignored a red light at Tireman Avenue, hitting the passenger side of an eastbound vehicle.

Prosecutors said he was driving at roughly 70 miles per hour in a 30 miles per hour zone when the crash happened. They also said he did not attempt to brake before impact.

Diallo and a 53-year-old woman were taken to a nearby hospital, where Diallo died and the woman was treated for injuries, prosecutors said.