TRAVERSE CITY, MI : Women suspected of drugged driving causing fatal crashes in Grand Traverse County on Tuesday, January 17th 2017

Marijuana detected in a pair of blood samples spurred a Grand Traverse County prosecutor to authorize felony charges against two women involved in a pair of deadly car crashes.

There are resounding similarities between crashes at issue in the pair of court cases that could land Jennifer Lynn Greenwood, 39, of Bear Lake, and Abby Rose Miller, 19, of Grawn, in prison for up to 15 years.

Both crashes resulted in death, occurred on Dec. 10 in Grand Traverse County and involved drivers authorities contend had THC, a compound found in marijuana, in their blood.

Prosecutor Bob Cooney on Wedenesday authorized charges of operating a vehicle with any amount of a schedule 1 controlled substance causing death be filed against both Greenwood and Miller in 86th District Court. The felonies are punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Drivers don't have to be under the influence of the drug to warrant a charge, said attorney Jesse Williams. State statute only requires the presence of a schedule 1 controlled substance be present in a fatal crash.

"The scary part for someone who's charged with this is they could have a very, very small quantity of active THC and practically speaking not have any impairment whatsoever," Williams said.

A Michigan medical marijuana law changes the requirements for charging some drivers. Authorities must prove registered medical marijuana patients are under the influence of the drug in order to charge them with drugged driving charges, Williams said.

Court records state Michigan State Police analyses showed Miller's blood contained 4 nanograms of THC per milliliter, while Greenwood's contained 1 nanogram per milliliter.

THC's influence depends on the person, Williams said. He contended charging someone based on 1 nanogram of THC per milliliter of blood was unreasonable.

"I think any time you have a low nanogram such as 4 that is a good opportunity for a prosecutor to use discretion when at least resolving a case," Williams said.

Grand Traverse County sheriff's deputies noted suspected drug use as contributing factors in both Dec. 10 crashes, said sheriff's Capt. Chris Clark.

But the "hazardous actions" that caused the crashes varied — deputies reported Greenwood drove too fast and Miller drove across the centerline, Clark said.

Miller is suspected of driving into oncoming traffic on Keystone Road on Dec. 10 and crashing into an oncoming Prius driven by Armond Worrell, who later died from his injuries, according to court records.

Greenwood is suspected of driving west on U.S. 31 when she crashed into an oncoming car on Dec. 10. The front-seat passenger in that car, Victoria Laviola of Interlochen, was killed in the collision, records state.

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Women suspected of drugged driving causing fatal crashes in Grand Traverse County