The female suspect in Saturday evening’s intentional vehicle collisions in Westland that injured a young couple in their own garage is facing a slew of felony charges, including assault with intent to murder.
April Marie Graves, 43, of Westland, faces 13 felonies and one misdemeanor in the incident, in which she is accused of crashing into multiple vehicles while driving intoxicated at a high speed down Wildwood Street, severely injuring a 32-year-old Westland man.
According to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, it’s alleged that while the two victims were unloading items from their vehicle, Graves drove her car into them, pinning the male victim between the two vehicles and severely injuring him.
Members of the Westland Fire Department arrived and removed the male victim from under the vehicle and transported him to a local hospital for treatment.
The victims were identified by a GoFundMe as Luke and Hailey Vinsko, who had just returned from their first date since having twin boys two months ago when the incident occurred. According to the GoFundMe, one of Visko’s legs had to undergo an emergency amputation, and the toes on his other leg were broken.
According to Westland police, Graves was arraigned in the 18th District Court on Tuesday afternoon in front of Judge Sandra Cicirelli on 13 felonies and one misdemeanor: two counts of assault with intent to murder, two counts to assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder of by strangulation, one count of operating while intoxicated causing serious bodily impairment, one count of reckless driving causing serious bodily injury, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, two counts of malicious destruction of property over $1,000, two counts of malicious destruction of personal property over $1,000, one count of assaulting/resisting/obstructing a police officer and one count of open alcohol in a motor vehicle.
Graves was given a $850,000 bond or surety. She is scheduled for a probable cause conference on Aug. 22 and a preliminary hearing on Aug. 29.
The incident has shocked the Westland community and left the victims with severe injuries that will have lasting impacts on their lives. The reckless actions of April Marie Graves have resulted in a devastating outcome for the Vinsko family, who were simply going about their evening when they were suddenly and violently attacked.
As the legal proceedings move forward, it is important for justice to be served and for Graves to be held accountable for her actions. The community will undoubtedly be following this case closely, hoping for a fair and just resolution for the victims and their families.