Ecorse man charged in fatal hit and run that killed boy, 8

(WJBK) - An Ecorse man has been charged in the fatal hit and run that killed an 8-year-old boy on April 19.

Stephen Williams, 27, was charged in connection to the crash that killed Brandyn Starks, 8, who was crossing Fort Street at Miami in southwest Detroit. The driver never stopped.

Police say the 8-year-old boy had autism and was crossing the street at a light. The light was green for travel but the boy was crossing anyway. Some drivers had stopped. 

Williams has been charged with one count each of reckless driving causing death, operating with license suspended causing death and failure to stop at the scene of an accident when at fault resulting in death.

Williams, who was arrested on Saturday, was arraigned after 3 p.m. and received a $500,000 cash/surety bond. He will have a probable cause hearing on May 1 and the preliminary examination is May 8.

Witness Nathan Dennings told FOX 2 that Starks, who was pulling a wagon at the time he was crossing the street, was knocked out of his shoes and socks. 

"I saw the little boy running out from the side of the church with his little red wagon. As he got half-way across, I stopped, the lady next to me stopped."

A third car also stopped to let him cross, but Dennings said a bluish green Chevy SUV, going about 55 miles per hour, drove around Dennings and hit the boy. 

"The wagon flew up, went off into the grass, the handle went the other way into the street."

Dennings saw the boy stuck on the bottom of the car.

"I can see the little boy's body flipping under the car as he's dragging him (for) a city block."

Dennings and other witnesses blocked traffic to try to help the 8-year-old. Brandyn's older brother ran to the crash as rescue crews arrived.