A Virginia man faces murder charges after authorities say he slammed into a disabled car on Interstate 75 in Michigan, killing a young family of four including two toddlers in a crash that prosecutors describe as the result of extreme recklessness.
This incident has become a national story because of the tragedy of two parents and their two small children dying, the extremely high blood-alcohol level, and because second-degree murder charges are being brought in this case.
On July 1, 2026, family returning from a swim stopped on the shoulder of the southbound express lane of I-75 in near East Holly Road in Springfield Township in Oakland County, Michigan, because the family’s Chrysler 300 had broken down.
Charles Dean Pace, 27, of Glen Allen, Virginia, was driving his Ford F-250 pick up truck southbound and reached a speed of more than 90 mph when he went across the center line, smashed into the family’s Chrysler and killed the four people in the car. According to the Michigan State Police and prosecutors, Pace was speeding, weaving through traffic on the highway, and drove off the road into the disabled car killing all four occupants of the car.
The victims were Tieree Powell, 24; his girlfriend Zakeria Sharon Dodson, 23; and their children Nalani Powell, 3, and Karter Powell, 2. Family members described them as a loving unit. Tieree Powell’s brother, Devrionta, expressed devastation and called for justice. A GoFundMe for funeral costs has raised significant support.
Pace, who was in Michigan for work, has a prior alcohol-related offense from Virginia in 2020. He reportedly completed substance abuse treatment afterward. He was arraigned on July 7, 2026, entered a not guilty plea, and was held without bond due to the charges’ severity and his out-of-state ties.
Pace was booked into Oakland County Jail. Prosecutors announced charges on July 6: four counts of second-degree murder and four counts of operating while intoxicated (OWI) causing death. Next court dates include a probable cause conference and preliminary exam. Second-degree murder carries up to life in prison if convicted; OWI causing death carries up to 15 years.
Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald stated:
“Zakeria, Tieree, Nalani and Karter did not die in an accident. They were murdered because of this defendant’s alleged choices to drive drunk, to drive fast and to drive recklessly that created an obvious and unnecessary danger.”
She noted the charges reflect “extreme indifference to human life,” though such murder charges are uncommon in vehicular cases.
The community and family have shown great devastation as well as outrage. There was much discussion on social media regarding the tragedy and dangers of impaired driving, although some commentaries took the discussion in the direction of racially charged opinions that had nothing to do with the case, although both WXYZ, ClickOnDetroit and FOX 2 Detroit, the local news outlets, confirmed most of the information that the prosecutors released.
According to the NHTSA, “11,904 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in 2024,” which represents 30% of total fatalities or about one every 44 minutes”. High BAC fatalities are particularly devastating since when it comes to driving, impairment is inevitable. 40% of alcohol-related fatalities in fatal crashes in Michigan occurred when the driver’s BAC was at least .24, more than three times the legal limit (.08) in the state.
The prosecutors highlighted the tragedy of this case and why it could lead to enhanced charges due to the fact that the defendant drove under the influence, swerved off the road at extremely high speeds, had a BAC level more than three times the Michigan limit (0.08%) and had a prior DUI arrest, which shows a pattern of conduct that demonstrates reckless disregard for the safety of others.
Defendant Charles Dean Pace is innocent until proven guilty and he may still be found not guilty at the end of the trial. Nonetheless, as pointed out by the prosecutors, this is an example that reminds one that DUI would lead to either a loss of a life or a life forever changed. Families and the community continue to grieve. But we must all continue to remember to not drink and drive.
