Two men were charged with manslaughter after a Wednesday car accident in Troy killed 20-year-old MSU student Lindsey Cianciolo.
MSU student Sandeep Sabapathy, 19, and Wayne State University student Steven Schafer, 20 - both from Troy - were arraigned on various counts in the Troy 52-4 District Court late last week. A preliminary examination is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 20 in the district court.
Sabapathy was driving home from a Troy restaurant, with Cianciolo as his passenger, when his 1999 Mercury Cougar flipped on a busy Troy road, killing Cianciolo, said Oakland County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Deborah Carley. Police reports said Sabapathy was attempting to race Schafer - who was driving another car - when Sabapathy lost control, and his car flipped and hit several street signs.
Sabapathy, a premedical sophomore, was arrested and held on a $100,000 bond. He had a blood alcohol level of 0.16 - twice the legal limit, Carley said.
Schafer was arrested and held on a $25,000 bond in the Oakland County Jail. Both were released after posting bond, jail officials said. His car did not hit Sabapathy's, but police said the racing could have contributed to the accident.
According to Carley and reports from Troy police, Sabapathy was hosting a party for friends during the Orange Bowl on Jan. 4 at his Troy home while his parents were in California. Alcohol was available and being consumed, police said.
Schafer, acting as a designated driver, and a few friends left the party to get some food at a local restaurant, Carley said. Cianciolo and Sabapathy met them there shortly after, she said.
As they left the restaurant to return to the party, both drivers were stopped at a red light and were intending to drag race, Carley said. When the light turned green, the cars sped away, she said.
The two northbound lanes on Livernois Road narrow into one lane, and while trying to merge Sabapathy lost control of the car, Troy Lt. Gerry Scherlinck said. The car slid onto the right shoulder and crossed back over the road onto the left shoulder, where it rolled over and struck several street signs, according to police reports.
Both Sabapathy and Cianciolo were wearing seat belts, police said.
Cianciolo died at the scene. She was a general business administration and pre-law junior.
Sabapathy was taken to Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak and treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Sabapathy was charged with second degree murder, a felony with a maximum penalty of life in prison; manslaughter with a motor vehicle, a felony with a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and $7,500 fine; and operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated causing death,a felony with a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
A woman who answered the telephone at Sabapathy's Troy home would not comment. His lawyer could not be reached for comment Monday evening.
Schafer also was charged with manslaughter with a motor vehicle and could face the same jail time and fines as Sabapathy. He also is being charged with negligent homicide, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in jail and a $2,000 fine.
Cianciolo's funeral was 11 a.m. Monday at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Troy.
Her father, Michael Cianciolo, said he hopes young people will take caution when partying and driving so more lives are not cut short.
"At parties, you don't know what everyone's doing," he said. "You think it's safe, when the person is not.
"These are accidents waiting to happen."
Lauren Phillips can be reached at phill383@msu.edu.
