Roseville (WWJ) -- Four students from St. Clair Shores were killed after the car they were in was struck by a suspected drunken driver near Macomb Mall Monday night.
The Macomb County Prosecutor, Eric Smith, says the driver of the second vehicle had a blood alcohol content "more than twice the legal limit" and will be facing second degree murder charges.
Roseville Police said Tuesday morning 19-year old Devon Spurlock was the driver of the red Chevy Cobalt which was struck by a suspected drunk driver. Spurlock died early Tuesday at Mt. Clemens General Hospital.
Also killed in the crash were 15-year old Erica Haudek, 16-year old Stephanie Currie and 16-year old Jordan Micelak. They were pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.
The teens were traveling north on Gratiot near Masonic and stopped at a traffic light about 8:30 p.m. Roseville Deputy Police Chief James Berlin says at that same time, a woman driving a van southbound on Gratiot lost control of her vehicle and collided with the teens' vehicle, forcing it onto a nearby median and into a utility pole.
Berlin says he's never seen an accident of this magnitude in his 20-plus years on the force.
Smith identifies the 47-year old driver of the van as Frances Patricia Dingle from Clinton Township who is charged with four counts of second degree murder and four counts of operating while intoxicated causing death. If convicted, Dingle could face life in prison.
Dingle was arrainged in her hospital bed at St. John's Macomb Hospital by Judge Joseph Boedeker with bond set at $1,000,000.
Dingle was released from the hospital at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday and was taken to the Roseville Police Department Jail. She was then processed and transported to the Macomb County Jail.
Her preliminary examination is set for March 25th at 8:15 a.m.
"Her actions in this case were egregious..suffice to say her BAC, blood alcohol content, was more than twice the legal limit," Smith told WWJ's Roberta Jasina.
Michigan Secretary of State records show Dingle had a valid drivers license. Her license was suspended three times last year as a result of her failure to pay fines related to not having proof of insurance. Records show Dingle was involved in one accident in January 2008.
Attorney James Simasko, who represented Dingle in a past divorce case and has spoken to her family since the crash, said Dingle had battled substance abuse in the past "but, according to the family, she's been sober for approximately three years but recently relapsed. So they're devastated, and their hearts and prayers go out to the family members of the victims."
Simasko said he hadn't spoken to Dingle and was not yet representing her in the criminal case. She has two daughters in their late teens and early 20s, he said.
Smith said the teens were going out for pizza.
Counselors were at Lakeshore High Tuesday morning to talk with classmates of the victims. Some students were seen crying at the school where the flag flew at half staff.
Parents told WWJ's Vickie Thomas it's "scary" to have your children driving.
"When you put your teen behind the wheel, sometimes you have to realize it may be the last time you see them," one parent said.
A stretch of Gratiot was closed after the accident Monday night. The road reopened early Tuesday morning.
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