Royal Oak Man Charged With Drunk Driving Causing Death Of 10-Year-Old Girl
ROYAL OAK (WWJ) - Police say a 26-year-old Royal Oak was drunk when he caused a freeway crash that killed a 10-year-old girl in September.
It happened late the night of Friday, Sept. 16, along I-75 just north of I-696 in Royal Oak.
According to investigators, Mark Anthony Silva, Jr., was driving a 2010 Dodge Dakota on the southbound side of the freeway when he struck a 2009 Pontiac G6 from behind.
The truck turned over on its side, eventually coming to rest on the right shoulder of the freeway, Michigan State Police said. When the Pontiac went up the embankment and struck the bridge, 10-year-old Lalonni Yharbough was ejected from the vehicle onto the freeway.
She was rushed to a local hospital but died a short time later. Police have said she was not wearing a seatbelt.
Several other people were treated for serious injuries.
Police said at the time that alcohol was believed to have been a factor in the crash; and, after a thorough investigation, a warrant was issued last week for Silva's arrest.
He was arraigned via video in 44th District Court on Nov. 22 on three counts of operating while intoxicated causing serious impairment and one count of operating while intoxicated causing death.
Silva remains held at the Oakland County Jail.
