A late-night attempt to cross 8 Mile Road ended in tragedy Wednesday when a 30-year-old woman from Eastpointe was struck and killed at John R in Hazel Park shortly before 11 p.m. Police say she was walking in a marked crosswalk in the far left lane when a westbound vehicle hit her, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver stopped immediately, checked on her and called police, and investigators say the crash remains under review.
Police account
According to The Oakland Press, Hazel Park Police Chief William Hamel said the woman was crossing against a red signal, while a 2019 Ford Fusion heading westbound had the green light. Hamel identified the driver as a 27-year-old man from Centerline and said a post-crash substance test showed no alcohol or drug use. Officials described the driver as cooperative at the scene. Hamel told the outlet that the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office assisted Hazel Park police with the crash investigation.
Safety concerns on 8 Mile
State crash data show pedestrian-involved collisions remain a stubborn safety problem, with recent tallies indicating that pedestrian incidents have not declined. The Michigan State Police's Office of Highway Safety Planning continues to track those trends statewide. In response, local officials and the Road Commission for Oakland County have been pushing engineering fixes on busy arterials, including pedestrian-beacon installations and intersection upgrades designed to shorten crossing distances and calm traffic on roads such as 8 Mile.
Traffic engineers point out that long crossing distances, multiple travel lanes and higher vehicle speeds all raise the stakes for people on foot at intersections like 8 Mile and John R. More detail on county projects is available from the Road Commission for Oakland County, while statewide crash data are posted by the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning.
Investigation ongoing
Hazel Park police say the investigation remains open and no criminal charges have been announced, Chief Hamel told The Oakland Press. Authorities are continuing to review evidence and witness statements to pin down the precise sequence of events. The fatality is the latest pedestrian death on heavily traveled Detroit-area arterials and underscores ongoing calls from officials and safety advocates for safer crossings and traffic-calming measures.
