A cyclist was critically injured around 6 a.m. Wednesday after hitting a large black pipe lying across the sidewalk on Axford Street in Orion Township, according to reports. It was still dark. He received CPR at the scene and was taken to a hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
The crash occurred a few hundred feet from St. Joseph Catholic Church, where the man was headed for a Bible study, Orion Township Supervisor Chris Barnett told WXYZ Channel 7. Barnett said a passing vehicle saw the crash and called 911. WXYZ reported that no barricades or cones were visible to block the sidewalk or warn that it was closed.
ClickOnDetroit placed the crash on Axford Street near Lapeer Road and Indianwood Road and reported that the Water Resources Commissioner's Office and the Sheriff's Office confirmed it involved equipment from a sewer rehabilitation project. The outlet said the Sheriff's Office could not immediately provide the cyclist's condition; WXYZ later reported he remained in critical condition.
Residents Say They Were Caught Off Guard
Barnett told WXYZ that township officials learned of the Oakland County sewer project after neighbors began raising concerns around Halloween. Kenneth Johnson, a nearby resident, also told the station that residents had not been notified before work began.
WXYZ reported that the above-ground pipes are intended to divert sewer flow while crews repair pipes beneath M-24, also known as Lapeer Road. Barnett said he had contacted multiple agencies to ask how the pipes could be better marked and that the township was seeking to understand how the project was installed without broader notice to residents along the route.
Who Oversees the Work Zone?
Orion Township says public roads fall under the Road Commission for Oakland County's jurisdiction, according to the township. That does not establish who approved or controlled the sidewalk work on Axford Street, or what permits or inspections applied; the available information does not answer those questions.
County and Contractor Respond
The Oakland County Water Resources Commission said it was working with project representatives to understand the circumstances of the incident and described public, crew and community safety as a priority. The agency identified DVM Utilities as the contractor. The company told WXYZ it was gathering information and would cooperate with the appropriate authorities.
The Oakland County Sheriff's Office responded, and its crash reconstruction unit is investigating. No findings have been released.
