A little girl is dead after a Friday night crash on Detroit’s west side that police say began with a driver blowing through a red light near Tireman and Southfield. The impact slammed into the car carrying the child, killing her and sending one adult to a local hospital with injuries, according to authorities.
Detroit police said the driver who allegedly ran the light stayed at the scene, and officers have opened an active investigation, according to Metro Detroit News. The outlet reports the crash happened Friday night. Officials have not released the child’s name or additional details about the injured adult. Detectives were working the scene, and the department said the probe remains ongoing.
Red-light running remains a deadly problem
Red-light running kills hundreds of people and injures tens of thousands every year across the United States. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that more than 1,000 people died in crashes involving red-light running in 2023 and notes that cameras and proper signal timing can lower those deaths, according to IIHS. Research cited by the group also finds that automated enforcement and longer yellow intervals cut fatal red-light crashes, giving cities ready-made tools to help prevent scenes like Friday night’s.
Local trends underscore the stakes
In the Detroit area, the broader traffic picture has not been encouraging. BridgeDetroit found that fatal crashes in Wayne County climbed from 151 in 2019 to 201 in 2022, a jump advocates tie to speeding and distracted driving, according to BridgeDetroit. In that context, every red-light violation in and around Detroit carries outsized consequences for families and neighborhoods, traffic safety experts often warn.
Officials have not released additional details about Friday’s crash. Investigators say the case remains open and more information could be made public as detectives continue their work. This story will be updated as authorities release new information.
