Patricia Nwaneri, 55, killed, Ponya Lee, 27, slightly injured and arrested on multiple charges, after car crash at intersection in Wayne County.

A Westland woman is facing a murder charge after police say she deliberately crashed her car into another vehicle earlier this week, killing the other driver. Ponya Lee, 27, was ordered held without bond after being arraigned on a charge of second-degree murder in Westland 18th District Court. A not guilty plea was entered on her behalf. Lee is charged with the death of Patricia Nwaneri, 55, of Ypsilanti. The crash occurred Monday afternoon, when Lee’s car, traveling eastbound on Warren Road, went through a red light at Wayne Road and struck Nwaneri’s northbound vehicle, Westland police said. “She (Nwaneri) lost consciousness at impact. She was hit in the driver’s door,” a Westland Police Lt. said. “She was alert when the firefighters arrived.” Wayne-Westland firefighters used the Jaws of Life to free Nwaneri from her damaged vehicle. Both women were taken to the hospital, where Nwaneri subsequently died. Adams said autopsy results were being awaited for the exact cause of Nwaneri’s death. Just prior to the crash, Adams said, that Lee had a verbal altercation with a girlfriend on her cellphone while driving. It is alleged that Lee told her girlfriend that she intended to crash her car seconds before the fatal collision, he said. What every family needs to know about wrongful death claims When a person dies as the result of a car, truck, bicycle, pedestrian, or other kind of accident, family members must deal with the tragedy as best they can. Many decisions need to be made, and a wrongful death claim needs to be filed. In Michigan, a claim can be filed by certain family members, but there are strict requirements and deadlines that must be met. It is crucial to speak with a Michigan wrongful death attorney to get necessary information and advice.