WARREN (WWJ) -- A former police officer in the city of Warren is on trial this week in connection with a deadly crash on Schoenherr Road.
Jury selection in the trial for ex-officer James Burke began Tuesday morning.
The rollover crash happened early in the morning of September 30, 2024.
Investigators said Burke sped down Schoenherr and crashed into an SUV at Prospect Ave., killing Cedric Hayden Jr., and DeJuan Pettis.
Hayden and Pettis were best friends who were headed home from work, their lawyers said.
Burke is accused of driving his patrol car at speeds reaching 117 miles per hour in a 40-mile-per-hour zone -- without his sirens on.
Burke is charged with two counts of manslaughter, as well as willful neglect of duty, and operating a vehicle causing serious bodily harm
Burke's defense attorney blamed the crash on Hayden Jr., saying Hayden Jr. turned front of the police vehicle and was drunk.
If convicted on the manslaughter charges, Burke faces up to 15 years in prison.
