The Orion Township retiree who was hit by a drunk driver in July died Tuesday from related injuries.
David Marentette, 67, was pronounced dead on Oct. 28 at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak.
On July 27, while crossing southbound Lapeer Road near Summer Street, Marentette was struck by a car driven by Fermin Sanchez, a 27-year-old Pontiac resident who had been drinking and also had a child in the car with him. Sanchez then fled the scene.
Enhanced charges are currently being reviewed by the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office, police say.
Sanchez has already been charged with operating while intoxicated causing serious injury, leaving the scene of a personal injury crash, felonious driving and child endangerment.
Sanchez is an illegal alien from Mexico, according to police.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said, “It’s incredibly frustrating and sad that Oakland County has now experienced two cases where individuals who are in this country illegally have broken the law and killed innocent people. The federal government must do more to ensure our borders are secured and the people who are in this country are following the laws. This most recent incident has left a family without a father at the hands of a criminal who continued to show contempt for our laws and the safety of our residents.?
Bouchard is referring to the August 2007 hit and run accident when an off-duty Flint police officer Vincent D’Anna was killed by an illegal alien in Independence Township.
See next week’s Review for more information.