Fordson High School student hit by driver who ran red light; Dearborn police seek charges
DEARBORN, Mich. (FOX 2) - Dearborn police say a driver who hit and critically injured a Fordson High School student on Friday ran a red light.
The 15-year-old freshman was crossing Ford Road at Schaefer around 7:35 a.m. when a driver in a Jeep Cherokee struck her.
Police initially didn't know the circumstances of the crash, but after an investigation, they determined that the victim was legally crossing the road when she was hit by the 19-year-old driver, who stayed at the scene. Police also determined that speed appeared to be a factor in the crash.
Additionally, the police department noted that the front window of the Cherokee was tinted, which is illegal and could have obstructed the driver's view.
"Dearborn Police continues to use every available resource in this ongoing investigation. We want to thank area businesses for providing video footage that aided investigators. Incidents such as these are completely avoidable if drivers adhere to basic traffic safety laws. We will continue to stay vigilant in enforcing those laws on our roads, and will pursue accountability against reckless drivers to bring justice to their victims," Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin said.
Police will be seeking charges against the driver.
"My heart is with the family of this tragic incident and we will pray that the young student makes a quick and full recovery. Tackling speeding and reckless driving remains top priority for our police department. We continue to make investments in a number of traffic-calming measures across our neighborhoods," Mayor Abdullah Hammoud said. "With all this said and done, we need parents to have serious conversations with young drivers in their household. Responsibility and accountability needs to be instilled."