Charges filed in double fatality
Houghton woman facing three misdemeanors
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HOUGHTON -- A woman from Houghton has been arraigned on charges stemming from an accident earlier this month that resulted in the deaths of a man and woman from South Carolina. According to a press release provided to local media from Houghton County Prosecutor Dan Helmer, Sze Wenn Tiang, 45, of Houghton, was arraigned Tuesday in 97th District Court. She is charged in connection with the Aug. 5 fatal collision on US 41 near the Golf Course Road in Houghton County’s Osceola Township.
According to Helmer’s release, “the collision resulted in the tragic deaths of Raymond Alton Miller, 65 and Kimberly Ann Wooldridge, 36, both of Rock Hill, South Carolina. Mr. Miller was a Marenisco native.”
Helmer said that after reviewing material submitted by the Michigan State Police (MSP) in the matter, he has authorized three criminal Charges;
• Count One: Moving Violation Causing Death; a 1-year Misdemeanor
• Count Two: Moving Violation Causing Death, a 1-year Misdemeanor
• Count Three: Operating with No License/Expired License; a 90-day Misdemeanor;
According to Helmer’s press release, the charges “are based on the Michigan State Police investigation and in consultation with investigators and members of Mr. Miller and
Ms. Wooldridge's families.”
According to a MSP release following the accident “troopers were dispatched at 12:30 p.m. Aug. 5 to US 41 near Golf Course Road in Oseola Township.” The MSP release stated that an SUV, driven by a 45-year-old woman, was south bound on US 41 and was unaware that a pickup ahead of her had stopped to make a left-hand turn onto Golf Course Road. In order to avoid a collision, police said the driver of the SUV swerved into the northbound lane of US 41 where it collided with a pair of northbound motorcycles. The motorcyclists were pronounced dead at the scene. Police said in addition to the driver, there were two children in the SUV. The occupants of that vehicle were evaluated at the scene by first responders and release.
Helmer reminds the public that “these charges are simply allegations at this time, and Ms. Tiang is presumed innocent until the charges are proven beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”
As of midday Tuesday, Tiang, was lodged in the Houghton County Jail.