Charges have been brought against a 19-year-old Dearborn man who ran a red light on Ford Road near Fordson High School the morning of Dec. 20 and critically injured a 15-year-old girl, a Fordson High School student, who was crossing the street to get to school.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN – A 15-year-old female Fordson High School student remains hospitalized after she was hit at 7:35 a.m. Dec. 20 while crossing Ford Road by a 19-year-old man running a red light.
Police officials announced Dec. 23 that they will submit their findings to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office to pursue charges in the pedestrian collision.
The girl and her sister were legally crossing Ford Road near Schaefer to reach Fordson High School when a westbound Jeep Grand Cherokee ran the red light and struck the 15-year-old.
The girl’s sister, who was walking closely behind her, narrowly missed being hit.
The girls’ family reportedly moved to Dearborn six months ago from Yemen seeking a better life for their family.
Local jeweler Zouher Abdel-Hak of N.J. Diamonds, 5601 Schaefer Road, had surveillance camera footage that captured the incident. He told WXYZ Channel 7 reporter Faraz Javed that it showed the girls crossing the eastbound lanes of Ford Road first, where vehicles were stopped at the light. The 15-year-old was then hit by the Jeep Grand Cherokee whose driver ran a red light on westbound Ford Road. The surveillance tape reportedly recorded the girl being struck and propelled through the air.
Factors being considered in the investigation include the tinting on the Jeep Grand Cherokee’s windows, how alert the driver was after working the night shift at a gas station, his vehicle speed, and the visibility of the sisters, who were reportedly wearing dark clothing.
Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, who has actively supported measures to combat reckless driving in the city, said more tickets were issued in 2024 than in any other year in the preceding decade.
The mayor said more speeding tickets are issued to male drivers age 16 to 24 than any other demographic group.
Hammoud is calling for a thorough traffic study at the intersection, and is asking parents to address the issue of driving safety with their young drivers.
He said his heart is with the family of the injured girl.
“We will pray that the young student makes a quick and full recovery,” Hammoud said. “Tackling speeding and reckless driving remains top priority for our police department.”
The mayor said investment in traffic calming measures is ongoing in the city’s neighborhoods as well.
Police Chief Issa Shahin thanked area businesses for surveillance camera footage.
“Incidents such as these are completely avoidable if drivers adhere to basic traffic safety laws,” he said. “We will continue to stay vigilant in enforcing those laws on our roads, and will pursue accountability against reckless drivers to bring justice to their victims.”