By BOB OLIVER
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN – A collision between and bus and car on Michigan Avenue killed one and critically injured three on May 13. The fatality was a 16-year-old Inkster girl.
The collision took place around 3:20 p.m. near American Drive when a SMART bus struck the back of Destani Henderson’s Ford Escort, which was stopped at a traffic light.
According to the Dearborn Police Department, Henderson and three passengers in the Escort were transported to Oakwood Hospital where Henderson was pronounced dead and the other three were listed in critical condition. One of them has since been changed to fair condition.
Police also said that the impact of the bus sent the Escort into the vehicle stopped in front of it, which was a pickup truck. The truck was pushed several feet into the intersection. The driver of the truck suffered minor injuries while the driver of the SMART bus was uninjured.
Police said that they do not believe that drugs or alcohol were involved in the crash, but that they are still investigating it.
All four of the passengers in the Escort were students at Inkster High School, where grief counselors and social workers spent the next few days talking to students.
The Inkster Public Schools superintendent’s office issued a statement May 14 that said “our hearts are heavy laden and saddened by the loss of our beautiful and brilliant student.” It also said that they were asking “that the community keep our students and families in prayer.”
Police Chief Ronald Haddad said that the crash was a “terrible tragedy.” He added that it will be fully investigated to determine its cause.
Henderson was one week away from celebrating her 17th birthday.
(Bob Oliver can be reached at [email protected])