Rochester Life

Passenger in Moving Vehicle Charged with Felony for Trying to Strangle Driver on M-59 in Rochester Hills

Oaland County Hills, MI – Nov 1, 2022 – A Metamora man, that tried to grab the steering wheel and strangle the driver from the backseat as they were traveling on M-59 in Rochester Hills, was arraigned today on a felony charge.

Kyle Garrett Rasmussen, 41, was arraigned in the 52nd District Court - 3rd Division with assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, or by strangulation. Magistrate Marie Soma set a bond of $25,000 cash surety, or 10 percent for Rasmussen, who is currently in the Oakland County Jail.

Rasmussen was a backseat passenger of a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck as it was traveling westbound on M-59 at approximately 2:21am Saturday when he attempted to grab the steering wheel and strangle the driver, a 31-year-old Otter Lake man. The driver was able to stop the truck in an area off M-59 and near the Adams Road onramp.

The driver exited the truck once it was at rest and fled to escape any further assault from the suspect. Rasmussen’s girlfriend, 30-year-old Sarah Ratliff of Davison, also exited the truck and ran from the scene. Moments later, Ratliff was struck by a vehicle traveling westbound on M-59, approximately 100 feet from where the Silverado was parked. She died a short time later at an area hospital.

Sheriff’s Office Crash Investigators believe Ratliff was struck by an Audi Q7 SUV, 2017-2019 model year (color unknown). The vehicle has front end damage, which likely includes damage to the lower portion of the front grille.

$1,000 REWARD

A reward of up to $1,000 is offered for information leading to the arrest of the driver of an Audi Q7 vehicle that fatally injured a Davison woman and then fled the scene early Saturday in Rochester Hills.

The Audi of unknown color is believed to be from the model years 2017-2019. It has front end damage, which likely includes damage to the lower portion of the front grille. The vehicle struck Sarah Ratliff, 30, as the vehicle was entering westbound M-59 from Adams Road approximately 2:21am Saturday. Ratliff died a short time later at an area hospital.

“It’s absolutely unconscionable that a person could run over another human being and drive off like nothing happened,” Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. “We need the public’s help to hold this individual accountable.”

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK UP. Crime Stoppers pays a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest. Tipsters remain anonymous.

The hit and run crash happened minutes after an altercation in a separate vehicle between two men.

Ratliff was a passenger in the vehicle, a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck, when a male passenger in the backseat attempted to choke the driver as the truck was headed westbound on M-59. The driver was able to stop the truck in an area off M-59 and near the on-ramp onto M-59 from Adams Road.

The driver, a 31-year-old Otter Lake man, and Ratliff got out of the truck and fled. Moments later, Ratliff was struck by the westbound vehicle on M-59, approximately 100 feet from the truck.

The backseat passenger, Kyle Garrett Rasmussen, a 41-year-old Metamora man, was arrested and is expected to face criminal charges. He identified himself as Ratliff’s boyfriend.

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