Drunk Driver Accused of Leaving Crash Victim to Die
One of the hardest things a person can live with is knowing they unwittingly caused the death of another person. This is often the case for drunk drivers, whose poor choices in the moment end someone else’s life, even if they aren’t able to remember the circumstances the next day. For one Farmington Hills man, the memories he will have to live with for the rest of his life may well be even worse.
Goran Djordjevski, a 41-year-old husband and father just had his conditional bail set at $100,000 for the fatal drunk driving accident he caused. But what makes this situation unique, and even more heartbreaking, is the fact that the crash victim could have survived the accident if Djordjevski hadn’t fled the scene.
Janet Marie Reed, a 44-year-old Pizza Hut delivery driver from Milford Township, was delivering pizzas in the early evening when her 1997 GMC Jimmy was struck from behind. Her vehicle was hit with such force that it flipped over and caught fire, trapping Reed inside.
Unfortunately, in that tragic moment, Djordjevski chose to flee the scene instead of attempting to offer aid. Perhaps he was too afraid of the possible consequences. Perhaps he felt that staying would incriminate him. Perhaps he didn’t think at all, simply acted on impulse. But whatever his motivation was, he got out of his car and ran.
A neighbor, Zachary Rohde, who had heard the crash, came out to see what had happened and saw instead Djordjevski running away. Rohde chased and caught him, and then brought him back to the scene of the accident where police questioned and then arrested him.
Blood alcohol samples taken at the hospital following the crash show that Djordjevski’s BAC was significantly higher than the state’s .08 legal limit for driving. It has since been determined by the medical examiner that Reed died of smoke inhalation and thermal burns.
Djordjevski has been charged with two felonies, namely: operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death, and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. Both charges are punishable by up to 15 years in prison under Michigan law.
The conditions of his bail are that he is to wear an alcohol monitoring tether, he may not have weapons of any kind, may not use any drugs or alcohol and must submit to random drug tests. Additionally, he must hand in his passport and may not leave the state for any reason.
His probable cause hearing is scheduled for today, February 11th in the 52-1 District Court in Novi, and his preliminary exam is scheduled for next week, on February 18th. Both will be presided over by Judge Robert Bondy.
