A tragic hit-and-run incident in Detroit has left the community reeling as a family mourns the loss of 44-year-old Juan Smiley and her boyfriend, D'Joran James, critically injured. According to CBS News Detroit, the couple were struck on Sunday while riding a Lime scooter across Gratiot Avenue. Smiley died at the scene, and her partner James, who remembers a Jeep Wrangler hitting them, remains in the hospital dealing with his devastating injuries.
During a Tuesday vigil, attended by many family members, the loss of Juan Smiley was deeply felt, especially given the timing of the incident coincided with her mother's birthday and Easter Sunday. In a statement obtained by WXYZ, Smiley's sister, Makeeba Harris, said, "She was a joy. She was a force. She had the most beautiful spirit. Outside of the sibling, her heart was so big that even the friends are just as close as family." Meanwhile, not having yet told her daughter about her grandmother's passing, Jessica Mayers, Smiley's pregnant daughter, shared the struggle of understanding why the driver did not stop to offer help after the crash.
The Detroit Police Department is actively searching for the driver responsible for this heartbreaking incident. In a plea for justice, the community and Smiley's loved ones, including her four children, are urging anyone with information about the suspect to come forward. "Whoever did this to her, please turn yourself in," Smiley's older sister implored in an interview with WXYZ. Smiley also leaves behind three grandchildren, with a fourth on the way.
As reported by FOX 2 Detroit, the family has gathered multiple times since the accident, desperate for answers and resolution. "You can run, but you won't get no rest," said Everett Bell, Jr., Smiley's father, calling on the driver to come forward. A GoFundMe account has been set up to help cover expenses, and the Pye Funeral Home has graciously offered to take care of Smiley's funeral services. Crime Stoppers has been involved as well, providing a hotline (1-800-SPEAK-UP) for anonymous tips that could lead to finding the hit-and-run driver and bringing them to justice.
