A Michigan community mourns the loss of a 75-year-old military veteran, who succumbed to his injuries five months after a violent incident left him clinging to life. The veteran, Lloyd Poole, was reportedly assaulted by a DoorDash driver outside his residence.
Poole, a resident of the tranquil Wixom neighborhood near Detroit, remained in a coma following a brutal encounter late last year. Despite medical efforts, he never regained consciousness, leaving his family to endure a prolonged period of uncertainty and heartache.
The tragic event unfolded when Poole confronted the driver about speeding through the area he had called home for many years. This confrontation, according to prosecutors, escalated into an attack that inflicted severe brain injuries on Poole.
Ryan Turner, the 40-year-old driver implicated in the assault, initially faced charges of aggravated assault after authorities alleged he struck Poole outside his house.
The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office announced Poole’s passing last week, marking the end of a months-long struggle for the retired veteran, who had been in critical condition since the assault on December 28.
The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that Poole died last week after spending months hospitalized in critical condition following the December 28 assault.
‘Our office was saddened to learn of Lloyd Poole’s passing,’ prosecutors said in a statement.
‘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.’
Michigan veteran Lloyd Poole, 75, died months after suffering catastrophic brain injuries during an alleged confrontation with a DoorDash driver outside his Wixom home
Ryan Turner, 40, allegedly struck Poole while he was driving for the delivery app DoorDash
Authorities say the encounter only escalated after Poole yelled at Turner for racing through the neighborhood while delivering his food orders.
According to Poole’s daughter, Jen Shaw, her father had been walking his dogs as part of his daily routine when the speeding vehicle tore through the area where residents often walk in the roadway because there are no sidewalks.
‘The guy sped past, and my dad called out to him that he needed to slow down,’ Shaw previously told the Daily Mail.
She said Turner drove away to complete a delivery before passing through the neighborhood again, prompting Poole to once more call out about his driving.
What happened next was captured on a neighbor’s security camera.
Shaw said her father stepped from his porch in an attempt to get the vehicle’s license plate number when Turner suddenly stopped his car and got out.
The two men exchanged words for several moments before the driver is alleged to have suddenly attacked.
‘Then out of nowhere, the guy punches my father on the side of the head,’ she said. ‘He doesn’t even try to defend himself. I don’t think he saw it coming.’
Lloyd Poole, 75, a veteran who served two years, was put into a coma after he was struck on the side of his head
Poole had to undergo emergency surgery on his brain to reduce the swelling. He remained in a coma for five months before ultimately succumbing to the injuries he suffered
For Poole’s family, the loss is almost impossible to comprehend. The grandfather, longtime neighbor, volunteer and veteran had spent decades living peacefully in the same home
Poole crashed to the pavement after being hit, suffering a devastating head injury.
‘He fell, and the guy got back in his car and drove away,’ Shaw said. ‘He just left him lying in the road.’
Police later said Turner admitted to striking Poole and leaving the scene.
Turner claimed he acted in self-defense after allegedly feeling threatened by the 75-year-old veteran, but the victim’s family fiercely rejected that explanation from the very beginning.
‘It’s not like he initiated any physical contact,’ Shaw said after the incident. ‘He told the guy to slow down, and this guy is claiming self-defense – it’s ridiculous.’
The injuries proved catastrophic. Poole underwent emergency surgery after suffering a severe brain bleed, with doctors removing part of his skull in an effort to relieve dangerous swelling on his brain.
For months, his family endured the uncertainty as the veteran remained unconscious in a coma while doctors monitored for infections and neurological damage.
The retired veteran had lived in the Wixom neighborhood for roughly 45 years and was well known in the community for volunteering and walking his dogs through the quiet streets.
Shaw said her father had been drafted into military service and served for two years.
Jen Shaw, Poole’s daughter, doesn’t understand why Turner was able to drive for the app in the first place given his record of offenses including a road range incident in 2022
Court records show Turner had previously faced assault-related charges in 2022 connected to a separate road rage incident that was ultimately reduced to a lesser offense.
He also accumulated multiple driving-related violations, including offenses involving a suspended or invalid license.
Because of those prior incidents, Shaw questioned how Turner was able to work as a delivery driver at all.
‘He shouldn’t be driving,’ she said. ‘He had a suspended license and a long history of driving without a license.’
DoorDash condemned the alleged assault after the incident first came to light.
‘DoorDash has zero tolerance for violence, and we have permanently removed the individual’s access to the platform,’ a company spokesperson said in a statement to the Daily Mail.
The company added it was cooperating with investigators to help ‘ensure justice is served.’
Turner was initially released after posting a $3,500 bond, a decision that infuriated Poole’s loved ones as the veteran lay unconscious in a hospital bed.
Prosecutors said they are reviewing whether upgraded charges are warranted following the veteran’s death.
