Inkster man accused of driving drunk when pickup plowed into group outside Shinola in Midtown

73-year-old man killed by pickup truck

DETROIT – An Inkster man has been charged after a 73-year-old man was killed and others were injured when a pickup truck plowed into a group of people outside Shinola headquarters in Midtown Detroit.

Deandre Merkie Simmons, 42, is accused of being drunk when he drove his pickup truck on the wrong side of the street and ran into three people as they were crossing West Canfield Avenue.

The 73-year-old man South Lyon man was pronounced dead in a hospital Friday. A 65-year-old Milford man was treated at the hospital and released, while a 65-year-old Milford woman is still receiving treatment at the hospital.

Simmons is charged with driving with a suspended license causing death, reckless driving causing death, operating under the influence causing death, driving with a suspended license causing serious injury, reckless driving causing serious impairment and operating while intoxicated causing serious injury.

Simmons was arraigned Saturday in Romulus. He is being held on a $100,000 cash bond. 

Watch video from his arraignment above.


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Derick is the Lead Digital Editor for ClickOnDetroit and has been with Local 4 News since April 2013. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports.