DETROIT – A person died Tuesday, Feb. 20, in a chaotic crash on Detroit’s west side.
The crash happened at about 10:30 a.m. on Seven Mile Road, near Evergreen Road. As of noon, the area was still closed off as authorities investigate and clear the scene of car parts strewn across the area.
Witnesses said the car was speeding down West 7 Mile Road, hit a utility pole, went airborne, struck a building and the driver was ejected. The pole and the building were also considerably damaged.
Todd Giles, who owns the building, said his plan to turn it into a Brightmoor Community Center has taken a major setback as a result of the crash. He expressed sadness toward the death of the driver and complications regarding the building.
“This is really going to set us back because we were at phase three of completing this building. We purchased this building from the city of Detroit as a burned-out building some years ago and we’ve done all of this work primarily on our own” Giles said. “A lot of sweat equity went into it and that’s going to hurt.”
The Detroit Police Department is investigating the crash. Crews from DTE Energy are working to repair the pole.
It’s unknown when the area will reopen to normal traffic.
