Ann Arbor police are hunting for a hit-and-run driver after a white SUV slammed into a 22-year-old man in a marked crosswalk at East Huron Street and Thayer Street on Tuesday afternoon. Viral video of the crash shows the pedestrian getting knocked off his feet and thrown into the roadway, even losing his shoes in the impact. He was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and is expected to make a full recovery, according to police.
Surveillance and dash-cam video shows a white Chevrolet Traverse hitting the man in the crosswalk, then speeding off while heading the wrong way down a one-way street, according to ClickOnDetroit. Officers say the SUV had a temporary license plate and likely suffered front-end damage. The clip has been shared widely online as investigators work to pin down the vehicle and who was behind the wheel.
Ann Arbor Police Sgt. Kory Petterle told ClickOnDetroit, "The driver has a responsibility to stop, stay on the scene and wait for police to arrive and investigate the incident." He added, "We are still looking for that vehicle," and said the pedestrian appears likely to make a full recovery. Petterle also urged drivers to stay sharp downtown as the summer calendar packs in more visitors and events, which means more people in crosswalks and more chances for trouble when drivers are not paying attention.
Police ask for tips and video
Anyone with information or footage is asked to call the Ann Arbor Police Department non-emergency front desk at 734-794-6920 or the AAPD tip line at 734-794-6939, email [email protected], or submit an anonymous tip through Silent Witness, per the City of Ann Arbor. Investigators say keeping the original, unedited video file and noting exact times can be crucial for tracking down the SUV.
Legal consequences for leaving the scene
Michigan law requires any driver involved in a crash that injures someone to stop, identify themselves, and provide reasonable help, and walking away from that responsibility can lead to fines or jail time, according to Justia. If the driver is tracked down, prosecutors could pursue charges related to leaving the scene, with specific counts and penalties hinging on what investigators find.
Downtown traffic, plus multiple summer event closures, is pushing more pedestrians into the area around Thayer and Huron. The University of Michigan's traffic advisories flag closures and detours tied to the Ann Arbor Summer Festival in June, something police say makes crosswalk safety especially critical right now. Officers are hoping the viral video will jog memories and nudge witnesses to step forward.
The Ann Arbor Police Department says the investigation is still active and urges anyone who may have seen the SUV to contact AAPD immediately. They stress that original video files and precise timestamps could be the key to identifying the vehicle and the driver who took off.
