Man Charged In Hit-And-Run Death Of Bicyclist On Way Home From Work
NEW HAVEN (WWJ) - A 30-year-old Columbus, Mich. man is facing several charges in the death of a 25-year-old woman who was killed while riding her bike home from work.
Macomb County prosecutors authorized several charges against Bruce Christy, including failure to stop at the scene of an accident resulting in death, unlawful use of a license plate, and attempted resisting and obstructing of a police officer. Bond was set at $50,000 during a hearing Saturday. A formal arraignment is scheduled to occur May 27.
The charges stem from an accident that happened around 11:10 p.m. Thursday on Gratiot Avenue and 27 Mile Road in New Haven.
According to police, Melanie James had just left her job at the Subway sandwich shop on Gratiot Avenue when she was struck by a Chevrolet Geo Tracker. After the collision, Christy stopped and got out of his vehicle, saw what had happened and then took off running on foot, police said.
Two young ladies coming home from the New Haven High School prom saw the woman lying in the road and called police.
Officers responded to the scene and started searching for Christy, who was eventually found holed up in a motor home about a mile away, hiding under a blanket.
"It appears that he was going through some wooded areas, swampy area in the neighborhoods with our deputies and K-9 on his trail. He actually ended up in an unlocked trailer and at that point, he disrobed and when our deputies found him, he was down to his underwear," Sheriff Anthony Wickersham told WWJ's Mike Campbell. "He appeared to be intoxicated, and he was taken into custody."
The incident remains under investigation and police are looking to speak with anyone who may have witnessed the accident.
Anyone with information is urged to contact police at 586-469-5151.