License plate reader kicks off police chase and crash, suspects still on the run

A police chase that began in Highland Park and ended in Detroit car crash, injured two uninvolved motorists Wednesday afternoon.

According to Highland Park Police, the incident began at around 2 p.m. on Wednesday, June 24, when an automated license plate reader flagged a stolen vehicle.

The system altered officers that the stolen vehicle was in the area of Hamilton Avenue and West McNichols Road. Officers then checked it against the Law Enforcement Information Network, confirming that the Detroit Police Department reported the vehicle stolen.

According to police, when officers arrived, they noticed one man step out of the stolen vehicle while two others stayed inside. Officers said the man exiting the car was carrying a semi-automatic pistol.

After seeing the police, the man ran away on foot. The two people still in the vehicle also fled still in the vehicle. Officers pursued the man on foot but were unable to bring him into custody.

Meanwhile, other officers pursued the vehicle in a car chase into Detroit. The pursuit led to a crash when the fleeing vehicle drove through the intersection of Livernois Avenue and Curtis Street where it struck two other cars.

Some officers continued pursuing the vehicle while others stayed behind to assist the drivers of the cars that were hit. The stolen vehicle eventually came to a stop on London Street, and the occupants got out of the car and fled on foot.

The two uninvolved motorists were transported to a Metro Detroit hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

All of the suspects remain at large.

Police are asking anyone with information about the incident or the identity of the suspects to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-Speak Up or the Highland Park Police Department at 313-852-7338.

Legal Issues After a Police Chase Crash in Michigan

Police chase crashes can raise legal issues that do not apply in ordinary car accident cases. Determining fault may depend on the fleeing driver, the pursuing officers, nearby drivers, department pursuit policies and the government agencies involved.

Michigan law gives authorized emergency vehicles some traffic-law exemptions during emergency responses and pursuits. Under MCL 257.603, an officer may exceed speed limits in some situations so long as the officer does not endanger life or property.

A fleeing driver may also face criminal charges. Under MCL 257.602a, fleeing and eluding can be a felony, and the potential penalty can increase if the chase causes a crash, serious injury or death.

In a civil case, important evidence may include body camera footage, dashcam video, traffic cameras, dispatch audio, crash reconstruction, pursuit policy records, vehicle damage, medical records and witness statements.

Governmental immunity

Police pursuit cases can be difficult because governmental immunity may limit some state-law claims. Under MCL 691.1407, governmental agencies are generally immune from tort liability when performing governmental functions, with limited exceptions.

Government employees may also be immune if they were acting within the scope of their authority and their conduct does not amount to gross negligence that is the proximate cause of the injury or damage. A city or police department is not automatically liable for every officer action.

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, no-fault claims, insurance disputes, serious injury claims, police misconduct claims and wrongful death cases.

If you or a loved one was injured in a Michigan car 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.

Michigan Legal Center can help you navigate issues involved in claims such as this with Michigan car accident medical bills and PIP priority, car accident claims and civil rights claims.