At Least Two Killed In Woodward Avenue Crash
HIGHLAND PARK (WWJ) - At least two people are dead following a Friday morning accident that shut down Woodward Avenue for more than five hours.
Talking to WWJ Newsradio 950, police said two people were killed and two more were critically injured. Later in the day, some reports said an additional victim had died, but police said they would not confirm the additional death until family members were notified.
The accident happened around 3:30 a.m. Friday on Woodward and Courtland Street, in front of the old McGregor Branch of the Detroit Public Library, south of Davison Freeway.
Highland Park police say just prior to the crash, an officer was attempting to stop a southbound traveling van on Woodward. When that van wouldn't pull over however, the officer decided to back off.
"Due to the weather conditions, they did not feel it was safe to continue on. The van crossed left of center, striking a northbound van, resulting in two fatalities in the northbound van and two critical in the van that was traveling southbound," Ofc. Christopher Zuellig said.
Reporting live from the scene, WWJ's Mike Campbell said it appeared one of the vans caught fire after the collision, the other was pushed onto the front lawn of the library. Both vehicles were completely wrecked, with glass and other debris littering the roadway.
An investigation is ongoing.
