Charges To Come Against Driver Who Crashed into Brooks Patterson

The man who drove a car that crashed into one transporting Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson will face charges that could result in jail time, according to reports.

Anthony Prainito, 31, of Royal Oak, will be charged with three counts of moving violations causing impairment of a bodily function, a misdemeanor punishable by 93 days in  jail, according to a report in The Detroit News.  

Prainito will be arraigned sometime this week.

Gerald Poisson, chief deputy County Executive, released the following statement in response to the charges:

“The driver of the other vehicle has been charged with negligent driving causing serious injury to Brooks, Jim, and the passenger in the other car. The Executive Office thanks Auburn Hills police for their professionalism in conducting a thorough investigation. This matter is now in the hands of the courts.” 

Patterson remains hospitalized following the Aug. 10 crash at the intersection of Opdyke and Walton roads in Auburn Hills. Patterson is recovering from serious orthopedic injuries. His driver, James Cram, was also injured in the accident. According to police reports, Prainito when he crashed into Patterson's car. 

Neither Patterson, Cram nor Prainito were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash, police reports show.