Left: Ryan Turner (Wixom police). Right: Lloyd Poole (Jen Shaw via WJBK).
A tragic incident unfolded in Michigan involving a 75-year-old man who died several months after an alleged assault by a DoorDash driver. The altercation reportedly began when the elderly man confronted the driver about speeding in their residential area.
Authorities in Wixom, a suburb of Detroit, responded to a distress call around 5:30 p.m. on December 28. They discovered an unconscious elderly man lying on the roadway near Barberry Circle and Windingway Drive. The police investigation suggested the incident stemmed from a road rage dispute.
Ryan Turner, aged 41, later presented himself at the Wixom Police Department. He reportedly confessed to striking Lloyd Poole, claiming he acted out of self-defense because he felt intimidated. Turner, who was delivering food for DoorDash at the time, stated that Poole fell and hit his head following the punch.
The confrontation began after Poole allegedly criticized Turner for driving too fast in the neighborhood, leading to their encounter. Authorities arrested Turner on a misdemeanor charge of aggravated assault. He secured his release on a $35,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court this Wednesday.
Following Poole’s recent death, Turner may face upgraded charges, as reported by local Fox affiliate WJBK. The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office expressed their condolences, stating, “Our office was saddened to learn of Lloyd Poole’s passing. We are committed to seeking justice for the Poole family and are currently reviewing the case to determine if additional charges are warranted based on the evidence.”
“Our office was saddened to learn of Lloyd Poole’s passing,” the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement to the outlet. “We will continue to seek justice for the Poole family. We are reviewing the case against his alleged assailant and may amend charges as appropriate based on the evidence.”
According to Detroit ABC affiliate WXYZ, doctors performed emergency brain surgery to remove part of his skull following the incident.
“He sucker punched my dad, and my dad never got up, and he drove away,” Poole’s daughter Jen Shaw told WJBK.
She doesn’t understand why someone would become so violent.
“People are crazy,” said Shaw. “You cannot anticipate how people are going to react, obviously.”
Per WJBK, Turner was previously convicted in a separate road rage case in 2022. He lost his license.
DoorDash released the following statement to People:
“What occurred was absolutely appalling and unacceptable,” the statement said. “DoorDash has zero tolerance for violence, and we have permanently removed the individual’s access to the platform. We are working with local law enforcement to support their investigation to ensure justice is served.”
