Man Arraigned In Crash That Killed Elderly Detroit Woman Planting Flowers

DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - A 19-year-old man has been charged in the death of an 83-year-old Detroit woman who was struck by a vehicle that had been hit by another car.

The Wayne County prosecutor's office says Deonte Renfroe was arraigned Thursday on second-degree murder and manslaughter with a motor vehicle charges.

Charlotte Kish was hit Sunday evening while tending to flowers in the median of a road on Detroit's east side. Authorities say the vehicle that hit her had been struck by a car traveling at a high rate of speed along Mound Road at 7 Mile.

The driver of the speeding car fled before police arrived. Renfroe turned him in on Tuesday.

Kish was a retired librarian and a member of the Raging Grannies, an international activist network. She also was known for her efforts to keep part of the city litter-free.

Kish's son Barrett says his mother did not die in vain.

"Now her message of activism and justice and love and taking care of the planet; and when you see an injustice, you know, protest and pick up and sign and talk to your Congressman and be involved and be active," he told WWJ's Stephanie Davis. "Pick up litter and plant her flowers — that's when she loved to do, and she died doing exactly that."

Renfroe faces a July 15 probable cause conference and July 21 preliminary examination before Judge Shannon Holmes.

Barrett Kish said he does not believe that his mother would not want Renfroe to serve time, but instead do community service.

"With his guilt he would probably want to pick up all the litter. He'd be the best litter lifter."

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