PLEASANT RIDGE, Mich. - A woman suspected of drunk driving when she rear-ended a local high school football coach killing him was arrested and taken into custody by Pleasant Ridge police late Wednesday night.
The crash caused a four-car accident on the 10 Mile Service Drive near Woodward Avenue in Pleasant Ridge. Ben Jones, the head coach of Cranbrook Kingswood's football team died as a result.
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Hunting Woods woman charged in crash that killed football coach in August
Wendy Bass was charged with second degree murder, operating while intoxicated causing death, and reckless driving.
The fatal accident occurred on Aug. 19. around 6 p.m.
Wendy Bass was charged with second-degree murder, operating while intoxicated causing death, and reckless driving.
According to police, the driver struck Jones so hard from behind it pushed him into two other vehicles in front of him. Officers that arrived on the scene were unsuccessful reviving him by performing CPR. He was pronounced dead at Royal Oak Beaumont.
Jones was known as someone who had a positive impact on all kids he coached.
RELATED: Cranbrook Kingswood football coach killed in crash caused by suspected drunk driver
The 54-year-old woman appeared in court via Zoom. According to the police, she was doing much faster than the speed limit.
"The posted speed limit on Ten Mile Road is 40 miles an hour - she was well in excess of 40 miles an hour," said Pleasant Ridge Police Sgt. Robert Reed.
It's not known if she was coming off of 696 or simply speeding down the service drive. Either way, investigators said she was three times the legal limit.
"Her toxicology came back from the Michigan State Police lab at a .28," Sgt. Reed said.
Sgt. Reed said Bass was arrested that night and hospitalized. After her blood was drawn, she was released. Now that the toxicology reports are back, she's formally facing charges.
"I don't think she's a danger to others - she been in treatment - right now she's going to treatment," said her attorney, Jerome Sabbota.
He said she's completed in-patient alcohol treatment and is continuing therapy. He argued she's not a flight risk, despite being arrested Wednesday by police and U.S. Marshals at her home in Huntington Woods amid rumors she was about to flee the country.
Ben Jones, 30, was killed after being rear-ended by a drunk driver in August.
Police said she was not and that she has been cooperative.
"I don't believe there's any reason to believe she's going to flee or she's going to run or she's not going to appear," Sabbota said
Her attorneys say Bass is a yoga teacher now, whose income comes from royalties from when her ex-husband was a producer for Eminem. The judge ordered an alcohol tether and is concerned she could be a danger to the public.
She was given a $50,000 personal bond.
Sgt. Reed is giving this very simple message we should all heed.
"The main message is don't drink and drive. It's something we've been hearing for years, it's what we teach in the schools, it's what we teach in driver's training, don't drink and drive," he said.