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Left: Ryan Turner (Wixom police). Right: Lloyd Poole (Jen Shaw via WJBK).
A 75-year-old resident of Michigan has passed away, months after an incident involving a DoorDash driver who allegedly struck him in the face. The confrontation reportedly occurred after the victim expressed concern about the driver’s speed through the neighborhood.
Authorities in Wixom, a suburb of Detroit, responded to an emergency call on December 28, arriving at the intersection of Barberry Circle and Windingway Drive. They found an elderly man, unconscious and unresponsive, lying on the road. Initial investigations suggested a road rage incident might have led to his condition.
In a surprising turn, 41-year-old Ryan Turner voluntarily visited the Wixom Police Department shortly after the incident. He reportedly confessed to striking Lloyd Poole, the elderly man, claiming he felt threatened. Turner explained that Poole had approached him regarding his speed, which resulted in the physical altercation. Turner, who was delivering food for DoorDash at the time, stated that Poole fell and hit his head following the punch.
Turner was subsequently arrested on a misdemeanor charge of aggravated assault. After posting a $35,000 bond, he was released and is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.
However, following the recent passing of the victim, Turner may now face more severe legal consequences. This development was reported by the local Fox affiliate, WJBK.
“Our office was saddened to learn of Lloyd Poole’s passing,” the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement to the outlet. “We will continue to seek justice for the Poole family. We are reviewing the case against his alleged assailant and may amend charges as appropriate based on the evidence.”
According to Detroit ABC affiliate WXYZ, doctors performed emergency brain surgery to remove part of his skull following the incident.
“He sucker punched my dad, and my dad never got up, and he drove away,” Poole’s daughter Jen Shaw told WJBK.
She doesn’t understand why someone would become so violent.
“People are crazy,” said Shaw. “You cannot anticipate how people are going to react, obviously.”
Per WJBK, Turner was previously convicted in a separate road rage case in 2022. He lost his license.
DoorDash released the following statement to People:
“What occurred was absolutely appalling and unacceptable,” the statement said. “DoorDash has zero tolerance for violence, and we have permanently removed the individual’s access to the platform. We are working with local law enforcement to support their investigation to ensure justice is served.”