Sunday night on Vernor Highway in Southwest Detroit turned deadly when a driver slammed into a 47-year-old man riding his bicycle in the marked bike lane, then took off, neighbors say, without even slowing down. Family members identified the cyclist as Robert Blackwell, who was heading eastbound on Vernor when the vehicle also clipped a parked car. Surveillance video captured the chaotic aftermath, and Blackwell was rushed to Henry Ford Hospital in critical condition.
He died tomorrow after being taken off life support, and his family says his heart, liver, kidneys, and pancreas were donated to patients in need, according to WXYZ. His daughter, Jenna Blackwell, told the station she "was like, I already, I already know, I already know he's gone" and stressed that "all actions have consequences" for the driver who fled. Relatives describe Robert as a devoted father and generous neighbor whose belongings and photos now anchor a small memorial on the block.
Deadly Crashes Have Haunted This Stretch Of Vernor
People who live and work along Vernor say the corridor has felt dangerous for years, especially for anyone on foot or on a bike. Hit-and-run crashes are not new here. In one similar case, a 2022 fatal hit-and-run near Livernois and Vernor led Detroit police to recover the vehicle and make an arrest, as reported by ClickOnDetroit. The pattern has residents calling louder for tougher enforcement and safer street design before another family is left grieving.
Police Turn To Public For Help Finding Driver
Detroit police say the driver who hit Blackwell is still on the run, and investigators are combing through surveillance footage, frame by frame, looking for clues. According to WXYZ, anyone with information is urged to contact the Detroit Police Department or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-SPEAK-UP. Authorities are asking neighbors and nearby businesses to pull up their doorbell and security camera footage for any glimpse of a suspect vehicle or license plate that could break the case.
National Numbers Show Bicyclists At Growing Risk
Blackwell's death lands against a grim national backdrop. Federal data show bicyclist fatalities have been climbing. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's 2022 fact sheet recorded 1,105 pedalcyclist deaths in 2022, a 13% increase from 2021, and found that most of those fatalities happened in urban areas, highlighting how exposed people on bikes are in cities. The agency also reports that alcohol and other risk factors play a major role in many deadly crashes, a combination advocates say should push officials toward more protected bike lanes and tougher enforcement, according to NHTSA. For now, Blackwell's family says they will keep pressing for answers and for accountability as they mourn.
