A 37-year-old man was killed in a hit-and-run along the I-94 service drive in Van Buren Township, and the driver who hit him kept going, police said. Officers responded to the scene and opened an investigation as they work to track down the vehicle and driver involved. The deadly crash lands in the middle of a years-long rise in fatal hit-and-runs that safety researchers say is reshaping traffic-death statistics nationwide.
Van Buren Township police told reporters the collision happened on the I-94 service drive and confirmed the victim’s age, according to FOX 2 Detroit, which aired a brief report today. The department is asking anyone with video or information to contact investigators as they piece together what led up to the crash and what happened afterward.
How Michigan Law Treats Leaving the Scene
Under Michigan law, failing to stop after a crash that results in death can be charged as a felony and comes with serious potential prison time. For the most severe form of the offense, the statutory maximum sentence is 15 years, according to the Michigan Courts Sentencing Guidelines Manual. Prosecutors can pursue different felony counts depending on whether the driver was at fault and whether the collision caused serious impairment or death.
Why Hit-and-Runs Matter
Researchers and federal data show hit-and-run crashes are making up a growing share of traffic deaths, with pedestrians and cyclists bearing a disproportionate share of the harm. A March 2026 brief from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reported that fatal hit-and-run crashes have climbed to historic levels and now account for an increasing portion of pedestrian and cyclist fatalities. Federal crash statistics show there were roughly 2,758 hit-and-run deaths in 2024, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Those trends help explain why detectives lean so heavily on video evidence and witness tips when they work a fatal hit-and-run.
How to Help Investigators
Van Buren Township police are asking anyone who may have seen something or captured video to come forward, according to FOX 2 Detroit. If you witnessed the crash or have dash-cam, phone, or business surveillance footage from around the time of the collision, investigators want to see it. Call 911 for emergencies, and use non-emergency numbers or the Van Buren Township Police Department’s tip line to share information that could help move the case forward.
