Street Racing Possible Cause of Fatal Accident in Northwest Detroit

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One Dead, Three Injured in Possible Street Racing Accident

The Detroit Police Department’s accident investigators are still reviewing a fatal accident on Evergreen Road, near 7 mile. Twenty-year-old Cierra Nicole Bean was thrown from an SUV when the vehicle hit a light pole, rolled over, and then crashed into a home. Bean was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, a result of multiple blunt-force injuries. Three men in the SUV, a 21-year-old driver and two passengers aged 18 and 20, were also injured in the accident and rushed to local hospitals.

The single-car accident occurred on early Tuesday morning around 1:15 a.m. The SUV was traveling at a high rate of speed, and initial reports quoted family members of the deceased as saying the driver was “drag racing” on Evergreen Road when the accident happened near the intersection with Curtis. The most recent statement from the Detroit Police Department is that they are unsure if the vehicle was street racing or was perhaps cut off by another vehicle.

The Danger of Being Fast and Furious

Whether or not this tragic accident was truly a case of illegal street racing or just a driver traveling at too high a rate of speed, it’s a reminder that driving too fast remains a major danger, especially to younger drivers. According to the Center for Problem-Oriented Policing, unorganized street racing is most popular with young people between the ages of 18 and 24 who usually live at home. This kind of street racing has played out in urban and rural communities across the United States for years. It can happen in semi-planned fashion, where two people agree casually to meet to race, or it can happen spontaneously, with two random drivers finding themselves at a stoplight. A moment of eye contact and a rev of the engine can start this kind of impromptu race.

Organized street racing appeals to a totally different demographic. Slightly older males, between 25 and 40, often spend a significant amount of time and money on their cars, attempting to gain an edge for races. These organized street races often attract many spectators and may have large sums of money placed into betting pools.

Both organized and unorganized street racing carry the same sorts of risk, as with any activity involving driving cars at high speeds. There is the possibility of injury, loss of life, and property damage. Unfortunately in the case of the accident in northwest Detroit, all three of these things happened when the driver of the SUV lost control of his vehicle.

Thousands of people are injured or die each year as a result of driving unsafely. Speed continues to play a role in many life-altering accidents, especially for young people. If you or someone you love was injured in an accident where someone was driving at an excessive rate of speed, The Lee Steinberg Law Firm can help. Our experienced car accident attorneys fight for the rights of clients in Detroit and throughout the state of Michigan. Call us today for a free consultation (1-800-LEE-FREE), and see what we can do for you!