Car hits pedestrian on Packard Street; driver jailed
A motor vehicle hit a pedestrian overnight on Packard Street in Ann Arbor, sending one man to the hospital and another to jail.
The collision took place at 2:28 this morning in the 1000 block of Packard Street, Ann Arbor Police Sgt. Mike Sherba said. An 18-year-old Macomb Township resident crossing the street was hit by a vehicle and taken to the University of Michigan hospital for treatment of his injuries, Sherba said. No condition report was immediately available, but the injuries were not considered life threatening.
Police arrested the driver, a 25-year-old Pittsfield Township resident, on a charge of operating while intoxicated, Sherba said. The driver was held overnight until he sobered up and was released later this morning.
No further information was available this morning.
Comments
Jaime Magiera
Sun, Apr 1, 2012 : 2:27 p.m.
I could see the police cars stopped at the intersection of Packard and Wells, right in front of the old bike shop. This would imply the pedestrian was crossing at the crosswalk. That corner is relatively well lit. It was an unpleasant situation. The driver was definitely intoxicated. I could hear the commotion.
justin
Fri, Jul 13, 2012 : 1:39 a.m.
You are wrong on several accounts there, you've made up half your post.
swcornell
Sun, Apr 1, 2012 : 12:52 p.m.
Drunk on drunk crime?
itsworthwhatyoupaidforit
Sun, Apr 1, 2012 : 12:02 p.m.
How about a map? Or at least a cross street? Packard travels from downtown, through campus (I'm betting the 1000 block is in that section), to the east terminus at Stadium. Just a bit more info please!
JustinHale
Sun, Apr 1, 2012 : 5:13 a.m.
In all fairness, some of these kids nowadays pay absolutely no attention when crossing the streets downtown. Either on cell phones, texting, or just oblivious to their surroundings. Yes, peds have the right of way at all times, but come on people, pay attention! Personally I don't put my life in the hands of right away laws in AnnArbor, and actually look before crossing. Isn't that what our parents taught us from day one? If this person looked both ways before crossing, this could have easily been avoided.
JustinHale
Tue, Apr 3, 2012 : 5:42 a.m.
Sparty: I didn't blame anyone, if you would have actually read my post. Sighting blame would be against AA.com's posting guidelines.... I simply said, looking both ways to be sure all drivers are doing as they should BEFORE stepping into the street, probably would have landed this pedestrian at their destination instead of in the hospital. Prove me wrong, go ahead, I dare you. Don't count on other people for anything, especially keeping YOU safe. It would be ignorant to assume that because of ped laws, you will be able to float freely across streets in annarbor without the risk of injury. Count on yourself getting you home safely, nothing else... Its pretty simple.
Sparty
Sun, Apr 1, 2012 : 2:05 p.m.
Yup, blame the victim, that will solve the issue.
craigjjs
Sun, Apr 1, 2012 : 10:56 a.m.
Yeah, "these kids nowadays". What, with their rock and roll, dancing and marjihoochie, they will be the end of civilization. Back when we were kids, we read with candlelight and wore tire treads for shoes, while trudging ten miles to school in the snow each day. I blame it on Elvis.
Wolf's Bane
Sat, Mar 31, 2012 : 7:05 p.m.
In all of my 30+ living in Ann Arbor have i ever heard of something like this happening in my neighborhood. I am in shock. This is beyond horrible. My best wishes to the victim of these horrific "accident."
a2xarob
Sat, Mar 31, 2012 : 6:56 p.m.
The smug self-righteousness and rampant speculation on this topic is staggering.
Sparty
Sun, Apr 1, 2012 : 1:50 a.m.
This topic? It's the norm on every topic from the increasingly right-wing residents of Ann Arbor.
Major
Sat, Mar 31, 2012 : 3:59 p.m.
Hopefully this person was not permanently injured and will recover quickly. Was this at one of those death trap "crosswalk's"?, wouldn't surprise me either way. Last night around 8 PM near the Stadium post office, I had quite a scare at a death trap crosswalk...again. In the darkening night, I suddenly noticed a man standing in the island (dressed completely in black including hoodie up) almost invisible to me and my passenger, I hit the skids...which in hindsight was stupid. Being in the left lane, I now obscured his view of the car hurtling through in the right lane. This person took it on faith the other person would stop since I did...he did not...even with me laying on the horn to warn the guy (I could see in my mirror he was going too fast to stop), VERY close call!! I even think I saw contact with the gym bag the guy was carrying as he wheeled around with a hand gesture! These are death traps, no question whatsoever, mark my word, there WILL be a pedestrian fatality at one of these crosswalks!! This is close call #3 witnessed by me in the last two months...one can only imagine how many happen every single day!
smokeblwr
Sat, Mar 31, 2012 : 3:17 p.m.
Chances are anybody out at 2:30am be they driver or pedestrian is likely drunk making things doubly dangerous.
G. Orwell
Sat, Mar 31, 2012 : 3:14 p.m.
The real question is, who is at fault? Even if the driver was intoxicated, it could have been the pedestrian that was at fault. Not much to go on based on this article.
j
Sun, Apr 1, 2012 : 1:22 p.m.
Donte Stallworth . . . .
G. Orwell
Sun, Apr 1, 2012 : 1:07 a.m.
Pedestrians do not have the right to walk out onto the street in front of moving cars. Not too smart. Would you?
Wolf's Bane
Sat, Mar 31, 2012 : 7:07 p.m.
As a driver of a half ton vehicle it is your responsibility to look out for pedestrians . ALWAYS!
Tru2Blu76
Sat, Mar 31, 2012 : 2:44 p.m.
If someone is out driving in Ann Arbor at 2:30 AM and they are sober and STILL manage to hit one of the TWO pedestrians out at that hour, they may consider themselves incompetent to drive and turn in their drivers license voluntarily. They may also consider betting on the lottery because they certainly have a knack for doing the impossible. ;-) The next news on this topic will probably be that a drunk motorist hit and killed Ann Arbor's Elusive Phantom Cougar.
craigjjs
Sun, Apr 1, 2012 : 10:51 a.m.
Tru: It was funny. You cannot be blamed for some people's lack of a sense of humor.
Tru2Blu76
Sun, Apr 1, 2012 : 8:34 a.m.
@Youwhine: Essentially, I was exaggerating for humor sake. But I do regularly go downtown (close proximity + sleep disorder) around that time and have video clips to prove that, indeed, pedestrians are few and far between. I LIKE that because I can take video - sometimes even setting up my camera tripod in the middle of Main Street. @ Mr. Lounsbury: sorry but I wasn't "arguing" anything - merely posing an exaggerated perspective and "conclusion." I guess I failed with my attempt at a joke. I thought it would be obvious, apparently that's not so.
Youwhine
Sat, Mar 31, 2012 : 5:30 p.m.
Clearly you haven't been in downtown A2 at 2:30 a.m. very often you believe that pedestrian traffic is light.
Craig Lounsbury
Sat, Mar 31, 2012 : 3:45 p.m.
"If someone is out driving in Ann Arbor at 2:30 AM and they are sober and STILL manage to hit one of the TWO pedestrians out at that hour," One could, hypothetically, argue both sides of the equation.
grimmk
Sat, Mar 31, 2012 : 2:15 p.m.
And I henceforth call upon lots of wank! But in all seriousness, this is really not much to go upon. The driver seems to be intoxicated and was driving. Nothing to do with the crazy pedestrian laws. I hope the poor pedestrian gets better soon and that their injuries were not so great. And how was the driver jailed? Seems he was just went to the drunk tank and let go.
Craig Lounsbury
Sat, Mar 31, 2012 : 2:14 p.m.
I hope for a speedy and full recovery. Its been awhile since I was out walking at 2:30 in the morning. But when I do I just assume by default that any car except a cop or a taxi is probably being driven by a drunk. I act accordingly.
Red Floyd
Mon, Apr 2, 2012 : 11:36 a.m.
Although you are technically correct, Sparty, that the act of driving at 2:28am does not automatically make one drunk, let's all be honest...we ALL assumed the driver had been drinking! The 1000 block of Packard is where E. University and Packard intersect. Frankly, I would've been shocked if it was reported the driver had NOT been drinking! A driver hits a pedestrian in the student ghetto within a half hour after the bars close. I think Craig is making a safe assumption here! As a former UofM student, I can attest...NOTHING GOOD happens on campus at 2:28am! Hahaha...
Craig Lounsbury
Sat, Mar 31, 2012 : 8:21 p.m.
Its an assumption strictly for safety purposes. Its called being prepared for the worst case scenario. I fully realize many people aren't drunk. But if I cross the street at 2:30 AM as though that car coming at me is drunk I'm better off. So you see its not a strange assumption because its not an assumption of reality its an assumption of safety.
Sparty
Sat, Mar 31, 2012 : 6:53 p.m.
You don't know anybody who works a late shift, who might be returning home from work or going into work? Last I heard this is a 24-7 Economy now, so that's a strange assumption to make, particularly in a town with a major hospital that is open 24 hours a day that employs thousands and has people coming and going at all hours just to name one major example. Restaurants typically start that early for deliveries, newspapers are being delivered for distribution at that time, road crews or sanitation crews are often heading to work, etc.