{"id":349066,"date":"2026-06-06T04:15:25","date_gmt":"2026-06-06T04:15:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/349066\/"},"modified":"2026-06-06T04:15:25","modified_gmt":"2026-06-06T04:15:25","slug":"case-advances-against-man-accused-in-fatal-crash-has-ice-hold-at-oakland-co-jail-the-oakland-press","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/349066\/","title":{"rendered":"Case advances against man accused in fatal crash; has ICE hold at Oakland Co. Jail \u2013 The Oakland Press"},"content":{"rendered":"

A man believed to be in the United States illegally will face an Oakland County Circuit judge on June 17 for arraignment on two felonies in connection with a head-on crash in Farmington Hills that killed an 81-year-old Detroiter.<\/p>\n

At the conclusion of a preliminary exam June 5 in 47th District Court, the case against Richard Leon-Zghen was bound over to the higher court for possible trial. Leon-Zghen, 26, is charged with reckless driving causing death and operating while intoxicated for the March 13 collision on I-696 that resulted in the death of George Fitzpatrick.<\/p>\n

\"mugshot\"Richard Leon-Zghen booking photo<\/p>\n

Officials said Leon-Zghen was a Northville resident at the time of the crash. His Oakland County Jail record shows an immigration detainer from the Department of Homeland Security.<\/p>\n

The collision happened at approximately 4:30 a.m. on the expressway, near Halsted Road.<\/p>\n

Police initially said a preliminary investigation suggested Fitzpatrick was the at-fault driver and that he had been traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of I-696 when he crashed into an SUV driven by Leon-Zghen. But digital forensic evidence obtained as the investigation continued showed Leon-Zghen caused the crash, officials said.<\/p>\n

Police officers responding to the scene found Fitzpatrick unresponsive and Leon-Zghen with minor injuries. Both men were transported to Corewell Health Farmington Hills Hospital where Fitzpatrick was pronounced dead.<\/p>\n

Leon-Zghen was taken into custody on March 17. His case is assigned to Judge Nanci Grant.<\/p>\n

Woman accused of spitting on cop, other crimes opts out of trial<\/a><\/p>\n

Criminal case advances against Detroiter accused of robbing Bloomfield Township bank<\/a><\/p>\n

Appeals judges deny claim that Oakland County court erred in sentencing for man who beat his daughter<\/a><\/p>\n

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