By BOB OLIVER
Times-Herald Newspapers
HEIGHTS — The 24-year-old resident charged with causing a hit-and-run collision that sent three children to the hospital earlier this month has been bound over to Wayne County Circuit Court.
Eric Michael Leighty appeared before 20th District Court Judge David Turfe last Wednesday for a preliminary examination of the evidence against him but waived his right to the proceeding and was bound over.
Leighty is scheduled to appear for an arraignment in circuit court at 9 a.m. Wednesday.
Leighty is charged with two counts of operating a motor vehicle with a suspended or revoked operators license causing serious injury, failure to stop at the scene of an accident, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended or revoked license second offense and two counts of moving violation causing serious impairment of body functions.
The two operating with a suspended license and failure to stop counts are felonies with penalties of up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine while the operating second offense charge carries a penalty of up to one year in prison and a $1,000 fine.
The moving violations are misdemeanors that carry penalties of up to 93 days in jail and $500 fines each.
Bond was continued by Turfe at $35,000, 10 percent, cash or surety.
The incident occurred near the intersection of Telegraph Road and Colgate about 2:25 p.m March 7.
Police Cpl. Leonard Stewart said a burgundy vehicle allegedly being driven by Leighty was traveling east on Colgate when it struck a silver Buick traveling south on Telegraph. After the impact the Buick continued until it struck a utility pole near Telegraph and Stanford.
Three children, aged 4, 7 and 8 years old, inside the Buick were transported to Children’s Hospital of Michigan, where one was initially listed in critical condition, one in serious condition and the third was treated and released.
Stewart said that the two children who were hospitalized have been released and are recovering well.
He also said that the children were wearing seat belts but not booster seats during the crash.
The aunt of the children, who was driving the vehicle, sustained minor injuries in the collision but was released after treatment.
The burgundy vehicle drove away from the scene before authorities arrived.
Stewart said that tips from the public led to the Leighty’s arrest the next day.
“We had a tipster call after hearing about the incident through local media,” Stewart said. “They observed a similar vehicle with damage and called the police department to report it.”
Police responded and compared vehicle parts that were left at the scene of the incident to the suspect vehicle and concluded that they were a match.
Leighty was taken into custody without incident and did not report any injuries from the collision.
Alcohol and drugs are not suspected to have been a factor in the crash.
(Bob Oliver can be reached at [email protected].)