Driver Killed, Passenger Critical After Crash at Woodward and University Drive [Waterford Township, MI]

A 50-year-old Waterford Township man was killed and his 25-year-old female passenger remains in critical condition following a two-vehicle collision in Waterford Township on the evening of Thursday, May 21, 2026. The crash occurred at the intersection of Woodward Avenue and University Drive around 8 p.m. and was reported by ClickOnDetroit Local 4 News, citing the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.

According to investigators, the crash involved a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee and a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The driver of the HHR, identified as Nahum Ponce Quevedo, 50, of Waterford Township, was found unconscious and not breathing when deputies arrived at the scene. Deputies performed CPR on Quevedo until paramedics arrived. He was transported to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead. A 25-year-old female passenger who was also in the HHR was found unconscious but breathing. She was transported to the hospital and remains in critical condition. The driver of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, a 55-year-old Waterford Township man, was wearing a seat belt and was not injured. Investigators say alcohol is not believed to be a factor. The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office has noted that it has not yet been determined who improperly entered the intersection — and that remains a central focus of the ongoing investigation.

The intersection of Woodward Avenue and University Drive sits in a busy stretch of Oakland County where residential neighborhoods, commercial properties, and commuter traffic converge. Intersection crashes in Michigan account for nearly one-third of all fatal traffic accidents statewide each year. When two vehicles enter an intersection simultaneously and collide with sufficient force to kill one occupant and critically injure another, the circumstances that led to that moment — who had the right of way, whether a signal was run, and how fast each vehicle was traveling — are critical questions that investigators must answer and that families must understand.

Understanding the Legal Implications of This Crash

The death of Nahum Ponce Quevedo and the critical condition of his passenger leave two families facing devastating and urgent legal questions at one of the hardest moments of their lives. Under Michigan law, the family of a person killed in a crash caused by someone else’s negligence has the right to pursue a wrongful death claim, which can seek compensation for the loss of companionship, emotional anguish, funeral and burial expenses, and the financial contributions the deceased would have made over the course of his lifetime. The fact that investigators have not yet determined which driver improperly entered the intersection does not prevent the family from consulting with an attorney — in fact, this is precisely the moment when early legal involvement matters most.

For the 25-year-old passenger who remains in critical condition, the legal picture is equally important. As a passenger in the HHR, she bears no fault for the cause of the crash, and Michigan law provides her with strong protections. Michigan’s no-fault insurance system will cover her medical expenses and wage loss regardless of which driver is ultimately found responsible for entering the intersection incorrectly. Beyond no-fault, however, she may have significant liability claims against the at-fault driver — whether that is the driver of the Jeep or another party identified through the investigation — for pain and suffering, permanent injury, and all losses that no-fault benefits alone cannot address.

Timing is critically important in cases like this one. The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office investigation is active and ongoing, and the physical evidence at the intersection — skid marks, vehicle data, traffic signal records, and any available surveillance footage — must be identified and preserved as quickly as possible. An experienced auto accident attorney can work alongside the investigation to protect that evidence, retain independent reconstruction experts if needed, and ensure that both the family of the man who died and the seriously injured passenger have the strongest possible legal footing as the facts of this crash come fully into view.

If your family has lost someone in a crash in Oakland County or anywhere in the Metro Detroit area — or if you or a loved one are seriously injured and unsure of your legal rights — our team is here to help. We proudly serve clients throughout Oakland County and the surrounding Metro Detroit communities. To speak with an experienced Michigan personal injury attorney, contact us today.

Source: ClickOnDetroit