A Michigan man has been sentenced to six months in jail after a hit-and-run crash left an 18-year-old girl paralyzed from the waist down. The driver, James Lawrence Shaheen, 40, was also ordered to serve 18 months of probation after pleading guilty to leaving the scene of an accident that caused an injury.
The crash happened on the night of October 22, 2024, when Shaheen was driving his Mini Cooper and struck Gabriella Golden, who was riding a longboard. Instead of stopping to help, he drove away, leaving the teenager seriously injured in the roadway.
The collision was captured by surveillance cameras, which recorded the sound of the impact and showed the vehicle leaving the area.
Golden was discovered roughly five minutes later by a passing motorist. She was lying in the street with blood covering her face, and emergency responders arriving at the scene found her in extreme pain.
Her injuries were life-threatening. Medical reports described severe spinal trauma, a dislocated shoulder and damage involving her liver, spleen and carotid artery. The spinal injury ultimately left her paralyzed from the waist down.
Golden’s recovery has been particularly difficult. Following the crash, she was placed in a medically induced coma, according to information shared by her family. During her rehabilitation, she required a wheelchair and continued to face complications from the extensive injuries she suffered.
Her family also reported that pieces of glass remained embedded in her skin, while doctors identified a piece of metal in her abdomen that they considered too dangerous to remove at the time.
Driver Said He Panicked After the Collision
Shaheen did not immediately report the crash to police. The following afternoon, October 23, he contacted authorities and said he believed he had struck someone with his vehicle the previous night.
In his account, he acknowledged hitting a pedestrian and leaving the scene because he was frightened. He said he was contacting police because he wanted to take responsibility for what had happened.
Before making that call, Shaheen had spoken with a police chief from another department whom he knew through a gym. According to the account provided to investigators, Shaheen said he had been petting his dog when he crossed the center line and struck the teenager, whom he initially described as someone riding a skateboard.
He also reportedly told the police chief that he experienced a panic attack and fled.
When a state trooper later visited Shaheen’s home, he accompanied the officer to his Mini Cooper. Shaheen acknowledged that leaving the scene had been wrong and expressed concern about Golden’s condition.
Investigators examining the vehicle found substantial damage to its front end, windshield and roof. The windshield had caved inward, and officers reported seeing several strands of hair along with blood on different parts of the car.
The physical evidence helped document the severity of the collision and the damage caused by the impact.
Six Months in Jail and 18 Months of Probation
Shaheen was sentenced on October 8 to six months in jail, followed by 18 months of probation. His guilty plea was to failure to stop at the scene of an accident causing injury.
The sentence brings a legal consequence for the decision to leave the scene, but Golden’s injuries have had consequences far beyond the courtroom. At just 18 years old when the crash occurred, she faced a long recovery involving paralysis, extensive medical treatment and the challenges of adjusting to life with a serious spinal injury.
The case also highlights the importance of stopping and contacting emergency services after a collision. Leaving an injured person without immediate assistance can delay critical care and create additional risks during an already dangerous situation.
For Golden and her family, the aftermath has involved not only the immediate medical emergency but also the continuing work of rehabilitation and adapting to the lasting effects of her injuries.
