MONROE, Mich. – UPDATE -- June 6: Monroe County Animal Control Officer Darrian Young, 24, died Saturday morning from injuries sustained during the crash Thursday.
“Officer Young was an enthusiastic, energetic, animal lover who had a particular passion for horses,” the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “Officer Young and her fiancé Zach Farris recently purchased a horse farm in Exeter Township and had plans to be married in the near future.”
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Young was previously listed in critical condition on Thursday following the crash.
Thursday’s reporting:
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a traffic crash involving an animal control officer that occurred in Monroe on Thursday.
Officials say a 44-year-old woman was driving westbound on M-50 and disregarded a red light at the intersection of Raisinville and South Custer roads, striking the officer’s vehicle that was traveling south on Rasinville Road.
The two vehicles then struck a third vehicle after colliding.
Darrian Young, 24, the driver of the county sheriff’s vehicle, was transported to the hospital and listed in critical condition.
Officials say the woman driver, from Hudson, Michigan, sustained serious injuries and was also taken to the hospital. The woman is believed to have been involved in a previous hit-and-run incident in Monroe, officials said. It is suspected that alcohol was a factor in the crash. Officials say toxicology results are pending as of Friday afternoon.
The driver of the third vehicle sustained minor injuries, officials said.
UPDATE -- June 9: The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office says the vehicle that crashed into Young’s vehicle was allegedly driving recklessly just before last Thursday’s fatal crash. The driver of the black 2014 Dodge Caravan with no license plate reportedly sustained front end damage before the incident Thursday morning, officials said.
The vehicle was seen in the area of Telegraph Road south of M-50 to Dunbar Road, and allegedly ran a car off the road on Laplaisance Road at East Dunbar Road. The Dodge Caravan then fled to I-75 and South Otter Creek and was last seen near East Front Street at St. Michael Church immediately before the fatal crash, officials said.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office is requesting local business owners to review their surveillance footage between 7:30 a.m. and 8:10 a.m. on June 4 for visuals of the suspect vehicle.
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