A Michigan woman is facing charges after allegedly driving her vehicle into a mother and her twin children during a local festival, resulting in the death of one child and serious injuries to the mother and the other child. Authorities have identified the suspect as 55-year-old Tammy Sandoval, who they say was driving without a valid license at the time of the incident.
According to court records from Wayne County, Michigan, Sandoval has been charged with one count of operating a vehicle while license suspended, revoked, or denied causing death, and two counts of the same charge causing serious injury. The Livonia Police Department has also charged Sandoval with failure to stop at the scene of an accident resulting in death and two counts of failure to stop at the scene of an accident resulting in serious injury.
The incident occurred on the evening of June 29, during the Livonia Spree festival. Police responded to the area of Lyndon Street and Merriman Road around 10:45 p.m., where they discovered that 28-year-old Tia Robinson and her twin children had been struck by a vehicle while crossing the road. The vehicle had then fled the scene.
The Livonia Police Department reported that due to the time of day, traffic signals were flashing red for Lyndon and yellow for Merriman. Witnesses at the scene removed the injured children from the roadway. Tragically, 3-year-old Khalil Robinson later succumbed to his injuries. His mother, Tia, and twin sister were critically injured.
The family expressed their disbelief and grief over the incident. Regina Robinson, the children’s grandmother, questioned why the driver did not stop to help. The twins’ grandfather, Michael Robinson, remembered his grandson as a loving child who adored his sister.
Sandoval appeared in court on July 3, where she remained silent as the charges against her were read. Prosecutors allege that she was leaving the fireworks show when the crash occurred. Her defense attorney, however, claims she was unaware that she had hit anyone. Sandoval is scheduled to appear in court again on July 10 and is currently being held on a $600,000 bond.
The Livonia Spree festival, which was held from June 24-29, was celebrating the city’s 75th birthday.