Morning school dropoff turned into rush-hour chaos at one of Clinton Township's busiest intersections last Thursday, when police say a stolen U-Haul truck rolled over at Garfield and Hall after a brief chase. First responders cut through the windshield to pull out the 47-year-old Clinton Township woman behind the wheel. She escaped major injury and was taken into custody. Several vehicles were damaged, and traffic around the intersection backed up fast. Authorities say the U-Haul had been reported stolen the previous day.
According to CBS News Detroit, court records identify the suspect as 47-year-old Jennifer Roe of Clinton Township. She was arraigned on charges that include third-degree fleeing a police officer, receiving or concealing stolen property, and reckless driving. Records list a $100,000 cash or surety bond and require Roe to wear a GPS tether if she is released. A probable-cause conference is scheduled for next Tuesday.
How the chase unfolded
Per WXYZ, the U-Haul was first flagged around 8 a.m. by a Flock automated license-plate reader after the vehicle had been reported stolen the day before. Clinton Township officers attempted a traffic stop, but the driver took off. The pursuit started near 15 Mile and Gratiot and stretched for roughly eight miles before ending at Garfield and Hall.
Investigators say the truck ran a red light at the intersection and was struck by an oncoming vehicle, which caused it to tip and roll onto its side. A bystander video that later aired on local stations shows the box truck charging through multiple intersections with police close behind.
Police response and crash scene
The Macomb County Sheriff's Office said deputies laid down stop sticks as the U-Haul headed along Hall Road, but the truck kept moving on a deflated tire until the collision, according to CBS News Detroit. First responders cut out the windshield to free the driver, who did not suffer major injuries, and several other vehicles at the intersection were damaged, ClickOnDetroit reported.
Clinton Township police said they called off their initial pursuit when the U-Haul left their jurisdiction, and deputies from the sheriff's office picked up the response.
Neighbors and footage
Drivers and workers in the area said the chase cut uncomfortably close to their normal morning routines. "I was thankful my kids weren't in the car," one viewer told WXYZ after recording video of the truck barreling through traffic. A Big Boy employee watching from nearby summed it up simply: "It could have been a lot worse."
The station's coverage includes bystander clips that show the U-Haul moving through multiple intersections in Macomb County shortly before the rollover.
Court and next steps
The suspect was arraigned in Macomb County district court and remains subject to the $100,000 bond set at that hearing. Prosecutors and the sheriff's office say the investigation is still active, and court records show a probable-cause conference scheduled for next Tuesday.
Flock cameras and law enforcement tools
Investigators say the whole incident started with an automated alert from a Flock license-plate reader that flagged the plate of the reported stolen truck. Flock materials and municipal transparency pages explain that the cameras scan plates, compare them against law enforcement hotlists, and send instant alerts when a match hits. Departments say that kind of real-time data can speed up the recovery of stolen vehicles instead of relying only on patrol cars happening to spot them.
The Macomb County Sheriff's Office says the case remains under investigation and has asked anyone with information to contact the office. Detectives are continuing to review crash footage and other evidence as the case moves toward its next court date.
