Man Faces Charges In Fatal I-696 Macomb County Crash: Police

ROSEVILLE, MI — A Jackson man is facing charges in connection to a deadly crash that killed one person on Interstate 696 in Macomb County, Macomb County prosecutors said.

Stephano Nabors, 40, was charged with second-degree murder, operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death, reckless driving causing death, driving with a suspended license and fleeing or eluding police.

His bond was set at $1 million. His next court date is scheduled for May 17. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison.

Prosecutors said Nabors was driving drunk in a Jeep Liberty on Friday at 3:35 a.m. when he entered westbound Interstate 696 the wrong way, eventually smashing head-on into an SUV near Gratiot Avenue, killing a 63-year-old Harper Woods man.

Before Nabors smashed into the SUV, he struck another vehicle near Couzens Road, causing it to rollover, and nearly collided with a Michigan State Police patrol car head-on, prosecutors said.

Moments before Nabors smashed into the SUV, troopers were also driving east on the freeway's shoulder of the westbound lanes, trying to alert Nabors he was driving the wrong way, prosecutors said.

"Thank you to the Michigan State Police for risking their lives to stop this driver. The defendant's reckless decision to get behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol resulted in a tragic and senseless loss of life," Macomb County Prosecutor Pete Lucido said in a statement. "Driving the wrong way on I-696 demonstrated a complete disregard for the safety of others on the road. We will vigorously pursue justice for the victim and his family."