At least one person dead Wednesday Kalamazoo crash
Kalamazoo police responded to a hit-and-run crash early Wednesday morning where at least one person has died.
According to the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, the crash occurred at around 2:56 a.m. the morning of Wednesday, June 24 in the area of Westnedge Avenue and Cedar Street. The department was responding to reports of a person lying in the roadway after being struck by a vehicle.
Upon arriving at the scene, officers found a 32-year-old man suffering from severe injuries, he was later pronounced dead at the scene.
The road was closed for several hours as police investigated and has since reopened.
KDPS detectives and crime scene personnel remained on scene throughout the morning processing evidence and conducting follow-up investigative efforts. Investigators are actively pursuing multiple leads and continue to canvass the area for additional evidence, surveillance footage, and potential witnesses.
No other details of the crash have been released yet.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the KDPS Criminal Investigations Division at 269-337-8139. Anonymous tips may also be submitted through Kalamazoo Silent Observer by calling 269-343-2100, through the P3Tips app or online at KalamazooSilentObserver.com.
Michigan hit-and-run laws
Under Michigan law, drivers involved in crashes that cause serious injury or death generally must stop at the scene, provide identifying information and render reasonable assistance. Michigan laws MCL 257.617 detail the rules about crashes involving serious injury or death, and MCL 257.619 addresses a drivers duty to give identifying information and help an injured person.
Leaving the scene of a crash involving a pedestrian can lead to serious criminal penalties, including felony charges and license consequences. It can also affect the civil investigation because police and attorneys may need to rely on witness statements, surveillance footage, vehicle debris, traffic cameras, license plate reader data and forensic evidence to identify the driver.
Even in crashes involving only property damage, Michigan law can require drivers to stop, report, or provide identifying information depending on the circumstances.
If a pedestrian was hit because a driver was speeding, distracted, impaired, failed to yield or turned into a crosswalk, that conduct may support a negligence claim.
Michigan uses comparative fault rules. If a pedestrian is found partially at fault, that may reduce the amount recoverable. If the pedestrian is found more than 50% at fault, they generally cannot recover noneconomic damages such as pain and suffering.
Get help from Michigan Legal Center
Michigan Legal Center is the Law Offices of Christopher J. Trainor & Associates. Our attorneys help injured people and families across Michigan with personal injury, car crashes, hit-and-run crashes, no-fault claims, insurance disputes, serious injury claims and wrongful death cases.
If you or a loved one was injured in a Michigan pedestrian crash, call Michigan Legal Center at (248) 886-8650 or contact Michigan Legal Center for a consultation.
There is no attorney fee unless money is recovered for you. Case costs and fee terms are governed by the written fee agreement.