On April 29, police disclosed additional information regarding racing-related crashes that killed a 15-year-old kid and injured a dozen others last week, tying up multiple cops and emergency services for hours on a major south Lansing thoroughfare.
They also indicated that the probe could take some time to complete.
“We are still not there yet,” Lansing Police Chief Rob Backus said during a news conference, noting that one victim remained in critical condition and any potential criminal charges will be influenced by speed determinations, injury outcomes and other details that are, as yet, unknown. “It’s going to take some time before we know where this ends up ultimately. But the prosecutor’s office, they are aware of it and they are prepared.”.
Backus spoke just a few hours before authorities confirmed the boy’s death from his critical injuries.
The atrocity occurred around 8:26 p.m. on April 24 on South Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, near Pierce Road.
According to Backus, investigators suspect two drivers were racing southward, resulting in a sequence of crashes involving five vehicles along a block-long section of road.
According to Backus, both drivers denied they were racing.
“Our witnesses tell us otherwise, the video shows us otherwise,” he said. “That’s why it’s important to do a complete investigation.”
A 19-year-old male driving a Chevrolet Malibu and a 23-year-old man driving a Jeep Cherokee appeared to be racing, according to Backus. The Jeep collided with another car at the Pierce junction before colliding with the Malibu, driving it into northbound traffic and colliding head-on with a heavy duty Ford truck and a Lincoln sedan, according to the chief.
Police earlier stated that the driver of the vehicle at Pierce was attempting to make a legal turn.
All five vehicles contained “multiple passengers,” according to Backus.
The driver of the Malibu was ejected through the windscreen, and he and his 15-year-old male passenger were taken to the hospital with significant injuries, according to the chief. The driver has already healed and been released from the hospital; however, the passenger, who is related to the driver, died on April 29. The boy’s death was reported several hours after Backus and Lansing Mayor Andy Schor talked with reporters.
The Jeep’s driver and two passengers sustained minor injuries. Other collision victims reported a variety of injuries, including potential fractured bones, wounds, and general soreness. According to officials, the victims ranged in age from three to fifty-two.
According to Backus, police suspect the Malibu’s driver was thrown because he was not wearing a seat belt.
Backus explained that a crash reconstruction team will assess how fast the vehicles were travelling and who was at blame. Investigators cannot file charges until they have more information and know what the injury consequences will be, he added.
“It’s the difference in charging someone (with) reckless driving causing serious injury and the potential, if this person doesn’t recover, reckless driving or a related homicide charge,” he said.
