Ben Crump Takes on Lyft After Andre and Carla Boynton Killed in Detroit Rideshare Crash

A North Carolina husband and wife were killed while riding in a Lyft in Detroit, and now their family, represented by nationally known civil rights attorney Ben Crump, is seeking to hold Lyft accountable.

Andre Boynton, 60, and his wife, Carla Boynton, 57, of Durham, North Carolina, were killed on February 22, 2026, after authorities say their Lyft driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a warehouse loading dock.

The driver, Theopris Mays, has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder and other offenses in connection with their deaths.

What Authorities Say Happened

According to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, Detroit police were dispatched at approximately 10:15 a.m. to a warehouse in the 6000 block of Rosa Parks Boulevard following a report of a single-vehicle crash.

Officers found the vehicle upright against a loading dock door. Andre and Carla Boynton were trapped inside and unresponsive. Medics pronounced both victims dead at the scene.

Prosecutors allege Mays was driving recklessly at a high rate of speed when he lost control and crashed.

Attorneys representing the Boynton family say the vehicle reached speeds exceeding 90 mph on residential streets with a posted speed limit of 25 mph. Crump's office has also said the vehicle traveled through multiple intersections and ran traffic signals before the fatal crash.

Authorities further allege Mays left the crash scene on foot. Detroit police arrested him a short time later.

Lyft Driver Faces Second-Degree Murder Charges

The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office charged Mays with:

• Two counts of second-degree murder
• Reckless driving causing death
• Leaving the scene of an at-fault accident causing death

Mays was working as a Lyft driver at the time of the crash, according to prosecutors. He was arraigned on February 25 and initially received a $500,000 cash/surety bond.

The charges are allegations. Mays is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

Andre and Carla Boynton Were Visiting Detroit for Religious Event

The Boyntons had traveled from Durham to Detroit for a religious event when the deadly crash occurred.

According to Crump's legal team, the couple was attending Saviours' Day in observance of Ramadan. Attorneys say Lyft had promoted the event to drivers and encouraged them to travel to Detroit to pick up fares.

Andre and Carla left behind five children and, according to their attorneys, were awaiting the birth of their first grandchild when they died.

Ben Crump's Legal Team Takes on Lyft

Crump's involvement was first publicly announced in April, when his office said he and attorneys Kevin O'Brien and Matthew Coin had been retained by the Boynton family.

At the time, the attorneys said they intended to investigate the driver's history as well as Lyft's hiring, screening and safety practices.

The case took another step forward in August.

On August 10, Crump's office announced that Crump and attorney Kevin O'Brien would file lawsuits against Lyft on behalf of the Boynton family and another Lyft passenger in an unrelated case.

The attorneys said the filings would seek to hold Lyft responsible for drivers the company approved, dispatched and placed on the road.

The claims against Lyft are civil allegations and will have to be established through the legal process.

Lyft Responds

Following the announcement of the legal action, a Lyft spokesperson told WRAL that the company wants people to feel safe and respected on its platform and said there is no place for violence, dangerous behavior or inappropriate conduct behind the wheel.

The company also said it continues working to promote safety for people who use its service.

The litigation could ultimately address a larger issue facing the rideshare industry: How much legal responsibility should a platform bear for the conduct of drivers transporting its customers?

What Happens Next

Two separate legal tracks surround the deaths of Andre and Carla Boynton.

The criminal prosecution against Theopris Mays will determine whether prosecutors can prove the charges against him beyond a reasonable doubt.

Separately, the Boynton family's attorneys are pursuing civil action against Lyft and seeking to establish whether the company bears legal responsibility in connection with the fatal ride. Crump's August announcement said the filings would ask a court to hold Lyft responsible for the drivers it approved, dispatched and put on the road.

Black Community News will continue following both the criminal case and the Boynton family's legal action as new court developments become available.

Editor's Note

This article is based on information released by the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, statements from attorneys representing the Boynton family, and publicly available reporting. Criminal charges are allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Claims made in civil litigation are also allegations unless established through the legal process.

Reader Question: Do you believe rideshare companies should be held legally responsible when passengers are killed because of the alleged actions of drivers operating through their platforms?