COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – 42-year-old Daniel Gerard Silich of Sturgis was formally charged with 11 counts including a charge of second degree murder during an arraignment on Wednesday in Branch County District Court in connection with a hit and run crash which injured three children while they were riding their bikes near their Sherwood Township home.
One of the injured youngsters, 13-year-old Landen Risner, died from his injuries 13 days after the crash at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. Six-year-old Roman Risner suffered a femur fracture and had plates and screws inserted during surgery. Their 13-year-old sister Elizabeth suffered minor injuries.
Besides the second degree murder count, Silich is facing charges of manslaughter with a motor vehicle, failure to stop at the scene of an accident when at fault resulting in death, reckless driving causing death, tampering with evidence, failure to stop at the scene of an accident resulting in serious impairment or death, reckless driving causing serious impairment of a body function, failure to stop at the scene of a personal injury accident, using methamphetamine and operating without a license.
The crash in the area of Ralston and Arney Roads was reported at about 3:45 p.m. on the afternoon of April 5.
According to the Michigan State Police report that was included in the court documents, Silich told investigators the day after the crash that he fell asleep while driving at between 45 and 50 miles an hour and he did not realize he had struck three children until after the impact. Silich added he panicked which was why he drove off and went to his home near Sturgis. He also said he did not strike the children on purpose.
The vehicle was found a day after the crash at a residence on Hackman Road near Sturgis thanks to a citizen’s tip.
Silich was booked on Wednesday at the Branch County Jail where he is being held on a $500,000 bond. A probable cause hearing was set for May 13 with a preliminary exam on May 19.
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