Personal injury attorney representing the family of deceased Reyna Martinez-Hernandez seeks input from witnesses and El Ranchino Campesino partygoers regarding activities at May 28 gathering

Media Contact: Barbara Fornasiero, EAFocus Communications, 248.260.8466; barbara@eafocus.com

Southfield, Mich. --- June 5, 2023--- A. Vince Colella, personal injury and civil rights attorney and co-founder of Southfield-based Moss & Colella, P.C., has been hired by the family of Reyna Martinez-Hernandez to pursue legal action following her May 28, 2023 death by hit and run driver David Armando Palacios-Sanchez, who has since been arraigned on multiple charges, including cocaine possession, and is being held at the Wayne County Jail on a $500,000 cash bond.  

The 49-year-old Martinez-Hernandez was a Macomb County resident, although earlier reports identified her as a resident of Rockford, Illinois. She died on May 28, 2023, after Palacios-Sanchez struck and killed her and critically injured a 39-year-old woman from New Jersey, while driving recklessly in his pick-up truck after leaving a large, organized party at a ‘farm’ in Sumpter Township, Michigan. The second woman hit in the accident died at a local hospital on May 31.

Background: The accident took place on Sumpter Road near Willow Road around 8:30 p.m., on Sunday, May 28, after Palacios-Sanchez departed from a party operated by a business entity known as ‘El Rancho Campesino,’ 26840 Sumpter Road in Belleville. According to witness reports, the pick-up truck was going so fast that the driver fish-tailed and hit the two women, who were also leaving the party. The vehicle only stopped when it hit a tree—and pinned Martinez-Hernandez under the vehicle in the process. Palacios-Sanchez fled from the scene and was hiding in a nearby woods when found and arrested three hours later through the assistance of a drone unit from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office equipped with infrared technology.   

The investigation: Colella spoke to the lead detective from Sumpter Township on May 31, who told him their department would not be investigating the ranch itself. Colella said the family of Reyna Martinez-Hernandez deserves a complete investigation of all aspects of El Rancho Campesino’s operations.

“This case has far too many unanswered questions, and I’m committed to leading an investigation if that’s what it takes to confirm the responsibilities and liabilities of hosting 400 people at an event where alcohol was flowing, traffic was apparently unregulated, and horse racing was said to be one of the activities,” Colella said. “The hit and run driver is obviously at fault, but it may not stop there. Who was in charge? Were permits by the Township erroneously granted? El Rancho Campesino better be prepared for complete transparency in responding to the many mysteries regarding its operations.”