SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – An ambulance hit and killed a person walking on Telegraph Road early Monday, police said.
Southbound Telegraph Road was closed for several hours between 8 Mile and 9 Mile roads while the crash was under investigation. The road is open to traffic again.
The accident happened about 5:15 a.m. Monday. A city of Southfield ambulance was on its way to the hospital from another accident when it struck a person on Telegraph Road.
Meanwhile, Southfield police released these details, identifying the victim as a 41-year-old Commerce Township man. Police believe he may have committed suicide.
At approximately 4:50 a.m., a Southfield Fire Department Advanced Life Support Unit was transporting a patient to Beaumont Hospital in Farmington Hills. The Life Unit was southbound Telegraph south of Sergeant (south of 9 Mile Road) when the Life Unit struck a pedestrian.
Based upon the initial investigation of the incident, it appears that the pedestrian that was struck was observed on the grass on the west side of Telegraph Road, and as the Life Support Unit approached, the subject darted out onto the roadway in the path of the Life Support Unit. The driver of the Life Support Unit attempted to swerve and brake to avoid striking the pedestrian but was unable to do so.
The pedestrian died from injuries sustained in the accident. The pedestrian is a 41-year-old Commerce Township man. His name is not being released at this time pending notification of his family.
Based on a statement from a witness, the pedestrian was also struck by a vehicle at approximately 4 a.m. in the same general area as the second accident. After the first accident, the witness assisted pedestrian back to his motel room where he has been staying for the past few days. This accident occurred about 50 minutes prior to the accident involving the Life Support Unit and was not reported to the police department.
Additional information: The location of the accident is not a designated crosswalk and the streetlights were working. The Life Support Unit was making a non-priority transport of a patient to a hospital; therefore it did not have its emergency lights or siren activated.
