A Macomb County juvenile court official has granted a four-day delay to give prosecutors a chance to study whether to try a teenager as an adult in connection with a high-speed police pursuit that killed an innocent bystander over the weekend.

Referee Anthony Scotta on Monday granted a special adjournment request made by the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office to give investigators a chance to review the circumstances and decide whether the interests of justice and protection require the juvenile to be tried as an adult.

The 16-year-old male is accused of crashing into a car driven by Alex Habib, a father of two who was working a second job as a rideshare driver early Saturday.

In a news release, county Prosecutor Peter Lucido described Habib’s death as a “completely preventable tragedy.”

“An innocent person is dead because someone allegedly chose to flee from law enforcement, endangering everyone around them,” Lucido said in the release.

The Detroit youngster is accused of driving a stolen car about 2:40 a.m. in Roseville. Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Gratiot at Interstate 94, but the teen drove off on to Interstate 696, exiting at Van Dyke Avenue.

That’s where the stolen Hyundai Sonata driven by the teen crashed into Habib’s vehicle. Despite life-saving measures being applied, Habib died a short time later in an area hospital, according to police.

At a preliminary hearing held Monday, Scotta denied the juvenile bond and ordered him to be held at the Juvenile Justice Center, pending the next hearing date, which will be held Friday.

According to the release, Lucido called on Michigan lawmakers to support bipartisan legislation that will address the growing public safety threat of drivers who refuse to stop for law enforcement.

In Lansing, the Michigan House is taking up a bill that would impose tougher penalties on those who refuse to stop for police.

“Every time a driver chooses to flee, they put lives at risk,” Lucido said. “We need statutory enhancement of consequences including mandatory prison time. The people of the state of Michigan deserve to be protected.”

Danielle Habib, the victim’s widow, has retained the Fieger Law firm to look into the crash that led to his death.

Alex Habib is described as a happily married father with two young children, an 18-month-old girl and three-month old boy.

“We are deeply saddened over the loss of Alex,” said James Harrington, a managing partner of Fieger Law. “Every resource available will be and has been dispatched to deliver answers to Alex’s family.”

Roseville Police Chief Mitch Berlin on Monday said the male defendant is believed to be part of an organized car theft ring targeting vehicles in Macomb County.

Habib, 28, of Madison Heights, also worked for the Jim Brady’s restaurant on Main Street in Royal Oak. His family has set up a GoFundMe account to accept donations for the children and funeral expenses. To make a donation, visit gofundme.com/f/support-for-alex-habibs-loved-ones.