WIXOM, MI – A quiet evening in a Detroit suburb turned violent when a dispute over speeding ended with a 75-year-old man hospitalized in critical condition and a food delivery driver facing assault charges.
Emergency responders rushed to a residential street in Wixom around 5:30 p.m. on December 28 after neighbors found an elderly man lying unconscious in the middle of the road. According to authorities, the incident began when the man reportedly confronted a DoorDash driver about his speed through the community.
The confrontation escalated quickly. Investigators say the delivery driver, identified as 40-year-old Ryan Turner, admitted to striking the older man after feeling threatened during their exchange. Witnesses recalled seeing the victim collapse after the blow and remain motionless as the driver allegedly fled the scene.
Turner later arrived at the Wixom Police Department and provided his account of the altercation, stating that the man’s comments about his driving led to the violent response. He was subsequently arrested and faces a misdemeanor aggravated assault charge. Turner posted bond, set at $35,000, and is scheduled back in court on January 14.
As of Thursday, the elderly victim, now identified by family as Lloyd Poole, remained in a coma following emergency brain surgery. Doctors were forced to remove part of his skull to relieve swelling caused by the trauma. Family members remain at his bedside, uncertain about his prognosis.
Poole’s daughter described a heartbreaking scene, recalling how she was told her father never regained consciousness after the punch. She expressed her disbelief that such a violent act could arise from a simple request to drive more cautiously.
Medical staff have informed the family that recovery is uncertain and could take days, weeks, or longer. For now, Poole’s loved ones can only hope for signs of improvement.
While the community struggles to make sense of the altercation, details about Turner’s past have come to light. Court records reveal that he was previously convicted in a separate road rage incident in 2022, resulting in a suspension of his driver’s license.
The food delivery company involved issued a statement strongly condemning any form of violence, noting that the driver’s access to the platform has been permanently revoked. Company representatives have expressed willingness to work with law enforcement as the investigation continues.
Residents of the neighborhood have expressed concern about driver safety and say they hope the incident prompts greater caution among those delivering in their community. Police have urged the public to avoid taking matters into their own hands during traffic disputes, emphasizing the importance of de-escalation and reporting dangerous driving to authorities.
As Poole’s family remains by his side, authorities continue to review security footage and collect witness accounts in hopes of building a comprehensive case. For now, the neighborhood grapples with the aftermath of an encounter that, in a matter of seconds, changed two lives forever.