Man Tries Choking Driver In Pickup Truck In Rochester Hills: Police

ROCHESTER HILLS, MI — A Metamora man is facing charges after police said he tried choking a driver from the backseat of a pickup truck in Rochester Hills on Saturday, prompting his girlfriend to run away from the truck and was fatally struck by a car moments later, the Oakland County Sheriff's Office said.

Kyle Garrett Rasmussen, 41, was charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder or by strangulation, the sheriff's office said. He was placed in the Oakland County Jail with a $25,000 bond.

Rasmussen was sitting in the backseat of a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck when he tried grabbing the steering wheel and strangling the driver from the backseat as they were driving on Michigan 59 at 2:21 a.m., officials said.

The 31-year-old Otter Lake man who was driving the truck was able to stop in an area off Michigan 59 and near the Adams Road onramp, where he and Rasmussen's girlfriend got out of the truck and ran away, officials said.

Moments later, Rasmussen's girlfriend, Sarah Ratliff, 30, was fatally struck by an Audi Q7 that was driving in the westbound lanes on Michigan 59, officials said.

Police are still looking for the driver that fatally hit Ratliff. Police do not know what color the Audi is, but believe the car's model is between 2017-2019. Officials also said the car likely has damage to the lower portion of its front grille.

Anyone with information about the incident was asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK UP. Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest. Tipsters remain anonymous.