ROCHESTER HILLS (WWJ) - A Metamora man was arraigned on a felony charge Tuesday after police said he tried to jerk the steering wheel and choke out the driver while he was traveling on M-59 in Rochester Hills.
Kyle Rasmussen, 41, was arraigned in the 52nd District Court yesterday on one charge of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, or by strangulation, the Oakland Press reported.
Rasmussen was given a bond of $25,000 cash surety, or 10 percent -- he is currently being held at the Oakland County Jail.
According to police, Rasmussen was a passenger in the backseat of a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck being driven by a 31-year-old Otter Lake man when the incident occurred. The driver was traveling westbound on M-59 at approximately 2:21 a.m. Saturday when Rasmussen reached from behind the backseat, tried to grab the steering wheel and strangle the 31-year-old.
In the struggle, the driver was able to pull off M-59 and stop the truck near the Adams Road onramp.
Police said the driver was able to exit the vehicle and fled the scene to get away from Rasmussen. Another passenger — Rasmussen’s girlfriend, 30-year-old Sarah Ratliff of Davison — was also able to get out of the Silverado and ran from the area.
Ratliff made it barely 100 feet from the truck before police said she was hit by a vehicle traveling westbound on M-59.
She was taken to a local hospital for treatment where she died of her injuries.
The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Crash Investigators suspect Ratliff was hit by an Audi Q7 SUV, 2017-2019 model year — the color of the vehicle is currently unknown at this time.
Investigators say the vehicle has front end damage, including damage to the lower portion of the front grille.
Anyone with information about the crash has been asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK UP. Tipsters submitted information via Crime stoppers will remain anonymous.
Online submissions can be made here.
Crime Stoppers pays a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest.