Kimberly Cooley Dancy

By Jeremy Carroll
C & G Staff Writer

ROYAL OAK — A Royal Oak woman accused of being behind the wheel in a fatal hit-and-run accident in September and then intentionally damaging her vehicle in an attempt to cover it up, waived her right to a preliminary examination in 44th District Court.

Kimberly Cooley Dancy, 44, made a brief court appearance on Jan. 30. She is expected to be arraigned in Oakland County Circuit Court at 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 9 in front of Judge Lisa Gorcyca.

Police and prosecutors believe Dancy struck and killed 40-year-old Detroit resident Jacqueline Robinson in the early morning hours of Sept. 19. Robinson was riding northbound on Woodward Avenue in the curbside lane, south of 12 Mile Road, when a car struck her from behind at Linwood at 1:30 a.m. Police said Robinson was dragged for more than 100 feet.

The driver did not stop, but another motorist did when they noticed Robinson lying in the roadway unconscious. Emergency workers were called to the scene and the woman was taken immediately to Royal Oak Beaumont Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. 

Tips led police to Dancy’s involvement, police had said. Previously, Lt. Corrigan O’Donohue said the day following the hit-and-run, Dancy crashed her 2008 Jeep Liberty into another vehicle in the parking lot of a drug store at the corner of 13 Mile Road and Woodward in an attempt to explain the hit-and-run damage.

Dancy is charged with the failure to stop at the scene of a fatal accident while at fault, and a charge of malicious destruction of property. The first charge is a felony, and carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in jail.

Dancy previously filed a civil case against the city, saying her vehicle was illegally seized, but that case has been dropped.

“She voluntarily dismissed the case earlier this month,” said City Attorney David Gillam on Jan. 30.

Deputy Oakland County Prosecutor Paul Walton said he couldn’t discuss the possibility that a plea deal was in the works for Dancy.

“I can’t comment on anything until it goes on the record,” he said.

Dancy’s attorney, Neil Rockind, couldn’t be immediately reached for comment.

Bond was originally set at 10 percent of $20,000; Dancy posted the $2,000 and was released.

A memorial, known as a ghost bike, was erected for Robinson soon after the incident. The bike was painted all white and was placed at the corner of Linwood and Woodward.