Judge Paul Cassidy agreed to adjourn the preliminary examinations of James LaCoursiere, 17; Stephen Davis, 22; and David Doyle, 17, for more discovery June 12. The rescheduled prelims were set for Aug. 5 in 42-2 District Court in New Baltimore, but according to a criminal court clerk, the judge cancelled all court appearances for that day.

The three will report back to 42-2 District Court for their preliminary exams at 8:30 a.m. Sept 16.

On May 7 LaCoursiere and Davis were charged with three counts of vehicular manslaughter, a felony carrying up to 15 years jail time, for the deaths of Robert “Bobby” McGuire, 17; Jordan Vandeputte, 17; and Nicholas Nobel, 17.

Doyle faces one count of reckless driving, a 93-day misdemeanor.

Around 2 p.m. April 8, McGuire, Vandeputte and Nobel were passengers in LaCoursiere’s Dodge pickup, traveling southbound on Gratiot Avenue between 24 Mile and 25 Mile, when they allegedly attempted to pass Davis’ red sedan. Chesterfield Police Department’s Detective Sgt. Brad Kersten said it appeared that both vehicles lost control and the pickup collided with the front end of a New Haven Schools’ bus, which was not carrying any students at the time of the accident.

McGuire and Vandeputte died at the scene and Nobel was transported to Mount Clemens General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at around 7 p.m. that evening.

LaCoursiere was also transported to the hospital, where he was treated for injuries and released sometime afterward with the assistance of a wheelchair.

Doyle and Davis are Clinton Township residents and LaCoursiere lives in Chesterfield.

The three drivers didn’t know one another before the incident; however, LaCoursiere and his three passengers were good friends and fellow L’Anse Creuse Public Schools students. The four were returning from a career and technical education class in Richmond when their drive was cut short.

Police are calling the accident a fatal result of negligent horseplay.

— Erin McClary