DETROIT – A 20-year-old Detroit man was sentenced Wednesday in connection with a hit-and-run crash that killed an 83-year-old woman.
Deonte Darrell Renfroe pleaded no contest to failure to stop at the scene of an accident resulting in death. The charges of second-degree murder and manslaughter were dropped.
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Renfroe was driving a silver Buick on July 3, 2017, when he crashed into a black Chrysler 300, which slammed into a pickup truck.
The crash happened at Outer Drive and Fenelon Street. Charlotte Kish was standing next to the truck and was thrown several feet during the impact. She died from her injuries.
Kish was known to neighbors as the flower lady. She spent most days along Outer Drive, keeping the median clean. She was doing just that at the time of the crash.
Renfroe fled from the scene and turned himself in three days later.
The sentencing
Kish’s son spoke before the court talking about his mother and her active lifestyle.
“The saddest thing about this massively tragic event, which took away her last golden years of her life, is that her great-grandson was never totally aware of how valuable it would have been for him to have known her.”
Renfroe apologized to the court and spoke kindly of Kish, who he said he knew well.
“I grew up in the neighborhood where she planted flowers,” Renfroe said. “She was probably the kindest, sweetest person I ever met.”
Renfroe talked about how she was such a great part of the community.
“I just want to express my deepest regret,” Renfroe said.
Renfroe was sentenced to 4 to 15 years in prison.
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