A 69-year-old woman was killed yesterday when a car hit her as she used a marked crosswalk at Schoolcraft Road and Telegraph Road in Redford Township, then kept going. The crash happened around 11:30 p.m., and emergency crews pronounced her dead at or near the scene.
According to ClickOnDetroit, police said the vehicle was heading east on Schoolcraft when it struck the woman in the crosswalk and left the area without stopping. Investigators have not released a description of the car, and the case remains open.
Police search for driver and witnesses
Per the Redford Township Police Department, traffic investigators are leading the case and are asking anyone with information or video from the area to come forward. The department lists its non-emergency line as 313-387-2551, and walk-ins can go to the station at 25833 Elsinore.
Pedestrian safety remains a statewide concern
Pedestrians continue to account for a troubling share of Michigan traffic deaths. The 2022 Michigan Traffic Crash Facts reported 173 pedestrian fatalities statewide that year. The report also notes that people 65 and older made up nearly a quarter of those deaths, highlighting how vulnerable older residents are when they are on foot.
Leaving the scene carries heavy penalties
Under Michigan law, leaving the scene of a crash that results in death can be prosecuted as a felony. State vehicle code MCL 257.617 spells out penalties for failing to stop after an accident causing serious injury or death, including potential prison time and fines when prosecutors can prove the driver fled.
How to help investigators
Anyone with information about Sunday’s deadly hit-and-run is asked to contact Officer Jacob Vance at [email protected] or 313-387-2561, or call the Redford Township Police non-emergency line, according to ClickOnDetroit. Investigators are especially interested in any dashcam, doorbell, or business surveillance footage from the area of Schoolcraft and Telegraph around the time of the crash.
