Dr. Shahed Hussain, 34, was in court Monday via Zoom to face charges of reckless driving causing death and causing serious bodily injury, which are 15 and five-year felonies.
The case stems from a September 2023 fatal vehicle crash in Elmwood Township that killed one and injured eight.
The Leelanau County Prosecutor and Hussain defense attorneys met with Judge Charles Hamlin for a quick session that resulted in the continued postponement of the case and sending it back to the district court.
The delay is in part due to a Michigan Supreme Court Case, State of Michigan v. Frederick Michael Fredell, that is of a similar nature.
Hamlin remanded the case back to the district court.
Neither the prosecution nor the defense said anything on the record.
“We want to reach a resolution for everybody, but I do want to make sure that we do it correctly,” Hamlin said. “This delays the case longer. That’s not the court’s intent.”
There is a timetable for when the case will be heard.
The case will go back to district court. Further reasoning is to make sure the record is protected in case of appeals because of new case law.
The Leelanau County Sheriff’s Office investigated the accident, which left one victim dead and seven passengers injured.
Hussain was arraigned on March 24, 2024, in the 86th District Court on one count of reckless driving causing death and five counts of reckless driving causing serious impairment of a body function.
According to the probable cause statement, a northbound Toyota attempted to pass a slower-moving vehicle and did not see the southbound Chevrolet before its passing attempt. A vehicle was coming down the hill from Lincoln Road towards Fouch Road near Hoxie & Bugai.
Upon arrival, deputies began removing victims from the vehicle and attempting to put out the fire, according to the sheriff’s office.
As a result, one deputy was later taken to Munson Medical Center for treatment and released.
All seven people on board were transported to Munson Medical Center for treatment by various ambulance services.
The front seat passenger of the Chevrolet, identified as Jennifer Broekhuizen, 46, of Jenison, died.
According to the court, Dr. Hussain is a resident at St. John Providence in Rochester Hills.
The Magistrate originally set a cash bond at $15,000, but Dr. Hussain’s attorney said that amount was too high and would risk his residency.
A personal recognizance bond was then set for $250,000.
Hussain turned in his passport, which will be kept at his attorney’s office.
