DETROIT – A blue pickup truck was speeding down Canfield Street near Second Street on Thursday when it crossed the center line and struck four people standing outside the Shinola store.
Witnesses said the truck barreled through the people, pinning a 73-year-old man under a camper which was parked on the street for an event. The passenger inside the pickup truck said he looked up and was shocked at what was going on, and then the driver kept on going.
UPDATE: Man dies from injuries after truck hits group of people outside Shinola store in Midtown Detroit
The passenger said he did the only thing he could think to do. He reached across and threw the pickup's gear shift into park to stop the driver.
"I asked him, 'Do you know what happened?' He said, 'Yeah.' I said, 'You just killed a guy, man.' He said, 'Yeah, I know. I know.' I think he was just in shock, man," the passenger said.
Driver in custody, reeked of alcohol, police say
Detroit police arrived, talked to the 42-year-old driver and said he reeked of alcohol. He was taken into custody and then to the hospital to be examined and tested for drugs and alcohol. Terrorism is not a factor in the crash, police said Thursday evening.
Multiple witnesses told police the truck crossed the line intentionally to hit the victims.
Three of the four people who were struck remain in the hospital. The 73-year-old man was in critical condition. He suffered a serious head injury. He died overnight.
Tesla was holding event outside Shinola
Shinola, a high-end watch and bicycle manufacturer, is located in Detroit's Midtown neighborhood along Canfield Street next to Traffic Jam & Snug, Third Man Records and Jolly Pumpkin.
Tesla was holding a "Tesla Explores" event outside of Shinola. The automaker is traveling across North America with a mobile gallery pulled by a Model X SUV. The trailer was retrofitted to showcase interior and exterior vehicle options.
A Tesla rep at the popup said the trailer was open for tours after the crash.
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