Michigan Teen Fleeing Police at 130 MPH Crashes, Killing Uber Driver and Father of Two

A Michigan juvenile who is accused of second-degree murder and other offenses in a car accident that killed a newlywed father of two will face adult charges.

The 16-year-old Daniel Shane Canales showed up via Zoom on Thursday for his arraignment at Macomb County’s 41B District Court, where Magistrate Ryan Zemke refused to grant him bond.

Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido said in a press release on Wednesday that Canales will face adult charges after he reportedly drove away from police in a stolen vehicle, led them on a fast-paced pursuit, and collided with a vehicle driven by 28-year-old Alex Habib.

Habib, a father of two small children who supported his family by working two jobs, passed away from his wounds after being brought to the hospital.

The events that allegedly preceded the deadly collision in the early hours of July 12 were detailed by Lucido in his news statement. Following a complaint, police observed a car moving slowly with its headlights and taillights off at a Clinton Township apartment complex. Police tried to stop the automobile, but it drove off “at a high rate of speed.”

The vehicle, which was reportedly being driven by Canales, reached speeds of up to 130 mph, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Jeffrey Hall said the court at the hearing on Thursday.

The pursuit came to a stop at around three in the morning when the car struck a Ford Fusion that Habib was driving.

Habib passed away from his wounds after being brought to the hospital. He supported his wife, whom he married six months ago, and his two kids, a one-year-old and a three-month-old, by working as an Uber driver and at a restaurant.

According to Habib’s father-in-law, “He was a great guy.”

Canales was reportedly suffering from potentially fatal injuries when police arrived at the scene of the vehicle he was driving, along with a 12-year-old passenger. After being brought to the hospital, Canales was taken into custody. Since then, the hospital has released him, and he is currently being held at the Macomb County Juvenile Justice Center.

During the arraignment, Hall informed the court that Canales had shown a “lack of regard for authority” following his alleged rapid escape from the police. He added, “The fact that the 16-year-old was out at 2:30 a.m. with the 12-year-old stealing a car shows a lack of parental authority for supervision of the son.”

Hall continued, “I do believe that the defendant does pose a risk to the public. I do believe that there is a concern for him to show up at court, given the severity of the offense, possible substance and lack of whole supervision for a minor.”

There are no charges against the 12-year-old passenger as a co-defendant.

Canales, who will next appear in court on July 28, was denied bond by Zemke. Canales faces charges of unlawful driving away in a motor vehicle, operating a vehicle under a suspended, revoked, or rejected license, two counts of evading a police officer, and second-degree murder.

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