A 45-year-old Ann Arbor woman was struck and killed after running into traffic on westbound M-14 near Wagner Road on Sunday, Aug. 2, Michigan State Police said.
Troopers from the MSP Brighton Post responded to the crash at approximately 11 p.m. She died at the scene.
According to the MSP investigation, the victim had left a restaurant with a friend and was riding as a passenger in a Ford Explorer driven by a 32-year-old Ann Arbor woman. Investigators determined both women had consumed alcohol at the restaurant. During the drive home on M-14, the two got into an argument, and the passenger demanded to be let out of the vehicle, opening the car door while it was still in motion, MSP First District said on X.
The driver pulled onto the right shoulder. After the passenger exited, she ran into the westbound lanes of M-14, where she was struck by a Jeep Compass driven by a 45-year-old Ann Arbor man.
The Jeep Compass driver stopped after the collision. He initially believed he had struck a deer, according to the Lansing State Journal. He was not injured and was determined not to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
The Ford Explorer driver checked on her friend, realized she had died, then left the scene in her vehicle, state police said. Troopers later located her. She told investigators she panicked and left.
State police determined the Ford Explorer driver had been operating her vehicle while intoxicated. Troopers conducted an Operating While Intoxicated investigation.
Charges under review
MSP said it is submitting its report to the Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office for review of possible charges against the Ford Explorer driver, including OWI and leaving the scene of a fatal traffic crash. No charges had been filed as of the MSP news release on Monday, Aug. 3. The investigation remains ongoing.
No names have been released by state police.
M-14 is a state highway under Michigan Department of Transportation jurisdiction, separate from the city streets covered by Ann Arbor's Vision Zero traffic safety initiative.
Anyone with information about the Aug. 2 crash can contact the MSP Brighton Post.
