A 94-year-old Milford Township resident and long-time district court employee who allegedly ran over a Novi woman and killed her following a 3-vehicle traffic crash last fall has been charged with a misdemeanor.

Officials said Sarah Jane Thexton, 59, died after being struck by a car driven by Phyllis Stafford, on Oct. 3, 2024, following a crash on South Wixom Road, just south of Grand River Avenue, in Wixom.

Stafford was recently arraigned on a charge of moving violation causing death. It’s punishable by up to a year in jail.

According to police, Thexton was driving a Honda CR-V stopped in traffic behind a Ford F350 driven by a Wolverine Lake resident when Stafford, driving a Nissan Versa, failed to stop and struck the Honda CR-V. Thexton then exited her vehicle and was standing near its driver’s door when the Versa accelerated forward, hit the Honda and ran over her. Thexton was trapped under the Versa which stopped a short distance from the crash.

Thexton died from her injuries at an area hospital. Stafford and the Ford F350 driver weren’t injured in the crash, police said.

Stafford’s attorney, Spencer Bondy, recently released this statement: “Ms. Stafford is currently charged with misdemeanor moving violation causing death, not murder or manslaughter. She has been cooperating with authorities throughout their investigation and will continue to cooperate as this case progresses. Ms. Stafford has never been in trouble before and has an exemplary record. She is devastated by this incident, it is significantly tragic for everyone involved.”

Bill Mullan, public information officer for Oakland County, said Stafford has been employed at 52-1 District Court in Novi for approximately 50 years and currently works there part-time.

Jeff Watrick, public information officer for the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office, released this statement to The Oakland Press:

“The death of Sarah Jane Thexton was a tragedy. The charging decision in this case was not made lightly. Based upon the investigation conducted by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Crash Reconstruction Unit, moving violation causing death (a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail) was the only appropriate charge against Phyllis Stafford according to current Michigan law.”

At arraignment, a $5,000 personal bond was set for Stafford, meaning no cash or surety was required to be posted for her to stay out of jail for now. Her next court date is pending.

Thexton is survived by her husband of 24 years, Christopher, and their daughter. Her obituary states, in part: “Sarah’s life was defined by her deep love for family and a passion for the world around her…Sarah was a kind and generous soul. She had a natural ability to connect with people and create lasting and warm bonds.”

Oakland County Circuit Court records show Christopher Thexton recently filed a civil case against Stafford.