A Detroit family is pleading for answers after 59-year-old Richie Johnson was struck and killed in a hit-and-run last Saturday, just days before what would have been his 60th birthday.
Johnson, a father of six and a grandfather, was walking home when he was hit near Joy Road and Appoline Street and later died, relatives said.
Police Review Video as Loved Ones Grieve
Detroit police say Johnson was hit at about 1:10 a.m. while walking home from a bar, and that the driver took off instead of stopping. Investigators are going through nearby surveillance footage and told the family they believe the vehicle may have been a red Chevrolet Impala, according to ClickOnDetroit.
His sister, Rosalind Rainwater, remembered Johnson as “the coolest dude” who “had a relationship with everybody.” She urged the driver to turn themself in so the family can get some measure of closure, ClickOnDetroit reported.
Family Launches Fundraiser, Searches for Answers
Relatives have created a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral expenses. The fundraiser page states that Johnson lost his life while crossing Joy Road near Pinehurst. Family members say he would have turned 60 tomorrow.
Those who want to help or share information can find both the family’s fundraiser and the anonymous tip line online at GoFundMe and Crime Stoppers.
Potential Legal Consequences for the Driver
Under Michigan law, leaving the scene of a crash that causes serious injury or death is a felony, and penalties are steeper if the driver is found to be at fault. Legal summaries of the state’s vehicle code note that failing to stop after an accident that leads to serious impairment can mean up to five years in prison, and an at-fault fatal hit-and-run can carry up to 15 years behind bars, according to RecordingLaw.
Investigators say they are counting on tips or additional video to help identify the vehicle and the driver so authorities can pursue charges if warranted.
How to Help
Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call the Crime Stoppers tip line at 1-800-SPEAK-UP or contact Detroit police. Johnson’s family says they want the driver to come forward and for the city to remember Richie Johnson as a man who was deeply loved by many.
