A 60-year-old Warren man died last night after he was hit while trying to cross Van Dyke Avenue at 15 Mile Road in Sterling Heights, authorities said. Police say he was in a marked crosswalk but stepped off the curb against the walk signal when a pickup truck struck him. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he later died. Investigators say the pickup driver stayed at the scene and is cooperating with police.
What the police say
According to FOX 2 Detroit, Sterling Heights police said the vehicle involved was a Dodge Ram and that the driver had a green light when the collision happened. Investigators told FOX 2 they do not believe the pickup driver was impaired. They also said the victim may have been under the influence of alcohol. Detectives are working to sort out the exact timing of the light cycle and the man’s movement in the crosswalk.
Statewide and national context
The Michigan Traffic Crash Facts database reports 173 pedestrian fatalities statewide in 2022, a number that underscores how dangerous busy roads can be for people on foot. The Governors Highway Safety Association has noted that pedestrian deaths have climbed sharply over the past decade and tend to be concentrated on roads without basic protections such as sidewalks or good lighting. Those trends help explain why major arterials like Van Dyke can be especially hazardous for anyone trying to cross.
Investigation ongoing
Sterling Heights police say the investigation remains active and no charges have been announced at this time, according to FOX 2 Detroit. Detectives are gathering physical evidence and interviewing witnesses as they work to establish the full sequence of events leading up to the crash. The department has said it will release additional information as it becomes available.
Van Dyke's safety record
The Van Dyke corridor has been flagged in recent coverage for elevated crash counts at several intersections, raising concerns for officials and traffic safety advocates. As Hoodline reported in a review of Michigan's most dangerous intersections, multiple nearby junctions rank high on statewide crash lists, a reminder that this stretch of road can be particularly risky for pedestrians. Local authorities say targeted engineering changes and stepped-up enforcement are among ongoing efforts to cut down on crashes and improve crossings along the corridor.
