WARREN, Mich. – Police sent out a press release Tuesday afternoon saying what happened in the crash that left two men dead and two officers injured early Monday morning in Warren.
Crash details
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The crash happened at around 5 a.m. Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, on Schoenherr Road, just south of Toepfer Road—north of 8 Mile Road.
Authorities said two Warren police officers were in a marked patrol SUV traveling on Schoenherr near Prospect when they collided with a white Dodge Durango that was attempting to turn onto Prospect from Schoenherr.
Men killed, officers injured
Both Warren officers were seriously injured. According to police, one officer broke several bones and had head trauma. Warren Fire Department extricated the officer from the patrol car. Both officers were taken to a local hospital where they are listed as stable. One officer underwent extensive surgery.
Warren police said both the driver and the passenger of the Dodge Durango, 34-year-old Cedric Hayden and 33-year-old DeJuan Pettis, died.
Family members said on Monday that Hayden and Pettis were lifelong best friends. They were very well-known and beloved in the area.
Police clearing the air
Warren police confirmed the crash was not a result of a chase.
“At no time were these officers engaged in a pursuit of the white Dodge Durango or any other vehicle when the crash occurred,” said Warren police in the press release sent out on Oct. 1.
Police confirm they were chasing a suspect in connection to a business break-in that happened near the crash a few hours after it occurred. Police said Hayden and Pettis were not suspects in any business break-ins.
Police clarified that the Dodge Durango was legally registered to Pettis and was never considered or investigated as a stolen vehicle.
Independent investigation
The Warren Police Department has asked the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office to do an independent investigation into the crash.
“We owe that to everybody here to make sure the right information is obtained and so that there’s no allegations of bias or anything,” Warren police Lt. John Gajewski said on Monday, Sept. 30. “The independent investigation was launched. The sheriff’s department is here on scene.”
He said it’s a large scene, so the investigation will take time.
Warren police said they will share more information with the public when the investigation is finalized.
What we don’t know
There are still some questions that haven’t officially been answered.
Here are some of the things we don’t know about this case:
- Who was at fault in the crash?
- How fast were the cars going at the time of the crash?
- Were there any altercations -- verbal or physical -- between police and members of the crowd at the crash scene?
