A Troy woman has been charged with negligent homicide in connection with a fatal auto accident that left her passenger dead.
The accident occurred back in December when the driver, 19-year-old Paige Yoo-Na Vella, made an unlawful left turn under a blinking red light. As Vella was making the turn her car was hit on the passenger side by an SUV. Her passenger, 17-year-old Kristen Wilhelm, also from Troy, was critically injured. She had to be extricated from the vehicle and was rushed to Royal Oak Beaumont Hospital. She died the next day.
Vella suffered only minor injuries in the accident, as did the 19-year-old driver of the SUV. There were two other passengers in the SUV, but neither person was injured.
After investigating the accident, the Troy Police Department determined that alcohol and drugs were not a factor in the accident.
Vella is scheduled to appear back in court February 17. She has since been released on $5,000 bond. If she is found guilty of the charges she could be sentenced to two years in prison and a $2,000 fine.
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