19-year-old dies from injuries suffered in crash on Hewitt Road
Editor's note: This article has been corrected to reflect that the man was driving the car.
A 19-year-old Ypsilanti Township man injured in a two-vehicle crash on Hewitt Road Thursday morning died Saturday, Washtenaw County sheriff’s Sgt. Geoff Fox said.
His name was not available from police Saturday night.
The crash occurred on Hewitt Road near Valley Drive in Ypsilanti Township about 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Washtenaw County sheriff’s deputies said.
The man was driving north and crossed the centerline, causing the crash, Fox said. A southbound SUV collided with the car he was driving. The woman driving the SUV suffered non-life threatening injuries.
Fox said Saturday night that it’s still unknown why the man’s car crossed the centerline. Police have said he was not turning at the time of the crash.
The man’s death was the third as the result of a car crash in Washtenaw County in as many days.
A 59-year-old Ypsilanti Township woman died Thursday after being struck by a car on Golfside Drive north of Washtenaw Avenue in Pittsfield Township just before 6 p.m. A 70-year-old Ann Arbor woman was hit by a pickup truck and killed on Ann Arbor-Saline Road north of Eisenhower Parkway in Ann Arbor Friday night.
Comments
scole
Mon, Nov 12, 2012 : 3:19 p.m.
I live near this site, and heard the accident. We have seen accident after accident in this 1/4 mile of roadway. This was the 3rd or 4th "major" accident within the last year, and the second fatality within 2 months or so (the 1st was a ped vs car that happened at about 1 am, and never made the news- our neighbor had the horror of witnessing that one). We have seen people pulled from overturned cars in our neighbor's yard, and fender-benders galore. We have only lost one mailbox in the 4 years we've lived here, and count ourselves lucky. I'm not sure what the reason, but suspect that people mis-judge the combination of the curve and hill. Add traffic turning into and out of neighborhood streets, with traffic moving in the 50 - 60 mph range with limited sight distances, and no turn lanes, and it's only luck that it doesn't happen more. I'm not sure what the answer is, but the neighbors are sick of that gut-wrenching feeling of watching someone else die in front of your house on ay given day.
YpsiLivin
Mon, Nov 12, 2012 : 3:43 p.m.
Amen to that. I also live on Hewitt just south of this accident scene. I figured that the accident at the end of September, which happened in virtually the same spot, was also a fatality but it didn't seem to get any news coverage. There is nothing more sickening than the screech of brakes followed by a crash on Hewitt, and it happens several times each year. For nearly 20 years when these things occur, we've called 9-1-1, checked on injury status for the first responders, offered immediate medical assistance to crash victims, provided cell phones for phone calls, comforted young drivers who are convinced that their parents "will kill them when they see the car," persuaded people to step out of the roadway as traffic continues to whizz by, and cleaned up the debris left behind. I've been in contact with the Township and the WCRC in an effort to get Hewitt evaluated for a road diet to try to slow this racetrack down. In the many discussions I've had with the WCRC since the speed limit was raised, they've been absolutely and unflinchingly deaf to the problem out here. They insist that speed isn't a factor, so there's nothing they can do, because the dozens of accidents on Hewitt are "unavoidable." I've lived here for 20 years and I can say that the accidents are FAR WORSE now than they were when the speed limit was lower. Lowering the speed limit may or may not prevent accidents from happening here, but setting the speed limit at 45 on a blind hill with a curve, coupled with the significant dip on Hewitt near Congress that can hide 3-4 northbound cars at one time and the sheer number of streets and driveways that open directly onto Hewitt just defies logic. Hewitt is heavily traveled by pedestrians - mostly school-aged kids walking to or from school, or moving between the high school and Ardis.
scole
Mon, Nov 12, 2012 : 3:35 p.m.
This young man and the woman who was injured have both been in all of our thoughts since the accident, and we were all impressed by the response from fire, EMS, and police departments, they did everything they could to help.
GoNavy
Mon, Nov 12, 2012 : 1:44 p.m.
My prayers go out to the family. While no details have gone out yet, the time of the crash (daylight, normal hours) might prompt parents to have yet another talk with their children about distracted driving - for all of our sakes.
needed perspective
Mon, Nov 12, 2012 : 1:31 a.m.
I drive that hill often, a hill with a blind curve. I alway approach with fear. Speed limit should be 35 or 30. Prayers for all....
Linda Peck
Sun, Nov 11, 2012 : 4:26 a.m.
May this young man and his family and friends have all of God's blessings.