No Criminal Charges — Just MIP Tickets — In Stony Creek Car Crash That Killed 3 Teens, Injured 2
MT. CLEMENS (WWJ) - There will be no criminal charges filed in connection with a rollover crash that killed three teens at Stony Creek Metropark in May.
Updating the public and the media on the case on Wednesday, Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said it's taken his department months to fully investigate.
But, he said — despite the rumors — this was no suicide mission.
Wickersham said investigators know that 17-year-old Jonathan Manolios was driving with a 0.08 blood alcohol level.
The black Jaguar was traveling up to 82 miles per hour in a 35 mph. zone — and in the wrong direction, almost crashing head-on into another car — when it slammed into a guard rail, then into the lake.
The car then rolled over five times in total, Wickersham said, and four of the five passengers were ejected from the vehicle.
"I think the speed got the best of 'em," Wickersham said. "I mean, obviously, the alcohol could've been a factor, too, but just this type of vehicle, the speed, the fact that they couldn't keep it on the road..."
Along with Manolios, of Sterling Heights, Emanuel Malaj, 17, of Sterling Heights and Michael Wells, 17, of Macomb Township also died. Joseph Narra and Greg Bobchick, both 17, of Shelby Township, were critically injured.
Wickersham said autopsies and medical records show all five boys had alcohol in their blood, and a 12-pack of Corona beer, a pint of Crown Royal whiskey and a pint of rum were found in the car. He said Malaj had used a fake ID to buy the booze earlier that day.
Two surviving teens will be ticketed for minor in possession of alcohol (MIP).
It was Bobchick's car, but Manolios "really wanted to get behind the wheel of the Jaguar," Wickersham said.
Manolios and Malaj were students at Stevenson High School. Wells was a student at Henry Ford II. All three played football.
