A driver charged with running over four people, killing one of them, in front of the Shinola store in Midtown this past summer will spend four to 15 years in prison.
Deandre Simmons plead guilty to four charges against him.
Police say the 42-year-old from Inkster was intoxicated and driving a blue pick-up truck on a suspended license when he slammed into four people in midtown on June 8.
"This guy comes barreling down in a blue pickup truck going like 45 miles an hour down Canfield,” said a witness at the scene.
John McDaniels, a 72-year-old Vietnam veteran was killed when Simmons crossed the center line hitting him and three others.
In court his niece Ruth McDaniels described how an outing downtown on a warm summer day turned into horror.
"They stopped by a special event outside Shinola where Tesla vehicles, always an interest to an engineer, were on display. And that's where John's life ended."
Family says John, who never married, was an avid volunteer, mentor and community leader in Milford.
"John had a smile for everyone. He was universally liked, loved and admired by so many people,” said Ruth.
She described the injuries he sustained after the crash and lived with for 12 hours before passing.
"A crushed pelvis, broken hips, broken ribs, dislocated knee caps, massive internal bleeding and multiple internal injuries."
Two others were severely injured and a fourth declined medical attention.
In court Deandre Simmons asked for forgiveness saying, "I would like to apologize to the family, the victims for the life that was taken and those who were hurt during this accident. I am not a threat to society nor to the community."
John McDaniels was killed one day before his 73rd birthday.
