Overview
- A head-on crash on Van Dyke Avenue in Bruce Township on Nov. 27, 2025, occurred when prosecutors say 31-year-old Austin Thorpe crossed the center line and struck a northbound car.
- Thorpe was arraigned June 3 on multiple felonies including operating while intoxicated causing death, two counts of OWI causing serious injury, two counts of third-degree child abuse, moving-violation counts and a charge for committing a felony with a motor vehicle.
- Prosecutors filed a habitual-offender enhancement and set bond at $500,000, and if released Thorpe faces driving prohibitions, alcohol-monitoring conditions and no-contact orders with victims.
- The crash killed Thorpe’s 5-year-old daughter and left his 2-year-old son, Thorpe and the other driver critically injured, with victims taken to Henry Ford Macomb Hospital and the child pronounced dead at the scene.
- A probable cause conference is scheduled for June 16 and the habitual-offender designation could raise potential prison terms under Michigan law if Thorpe is convicted.