Nearly five months after a brutal hit-and-run on Detroit’s west side, the family of 29-year-old Gary Browning is still pleading for answers and help. Browning, a father of four children all under 10, was hit after he and his girlfriend left a stalled car on Interstate 96 and walked up the Greenfield exit ramp. His family says he later died from his injuries on Jan. 11.
What officials say
According to Michigan State Police, the couple’s car ran out of gas and they were walking along the shoulder of westbound I-96 near the Greenfield Road exit on Dec. 27, 2025, when a dark-colored vehicle struck Browning and sped off. Several witnesses stopped to help, and troopers responded to the scene, as reported by MLive.
Injuries, family and investigation
Family members say Browning suffered catastrophic injuries: seven cracked ribs, a broken femur, a traumatic brain injury, a collapsed lung and bleeding in his brain. He was rushed into emergency surgery and, according to his family, died 14 days later. His aunt, Tameka White, called the loss “It’s heartless” and added, “All we want is justice for my nephew. Period.” Michigan State Police have not announced any arrests but say investigators are still working the case, as reported by ClickOnDetroit.
How to help
Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact the Michigan State Police Metro South Post at 734-287-5000 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP. People with tips or video footage are being urged to call or submit anonymous information through Crime Stoppers.
Why this matters
Hit-and-run investigations in Metro Detroit often live or die on community tips. In one recent Oak Park case, a crucial tip helped police identify and charge a suspect, WXYZ reported. Detroit police have made similar public appeals after other deadly collisions, highlighting how witness accounts and surveillance footage can be the key to justice.
