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Posted on Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 10:45 a.m.

Bicyclist critically injured in hit-and-run crash in Ann Arbor Township

By Lee Higgins

This story has been updated with additional information from the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office.

An Ann Arbor woman police said critically injured a 60-year-old bicyclist then left the scene was arrested after crashing her car again about half an hour later.

An off-duty sheriff’s reserve officer found the bicyclist after seeing his damaged bicycle on the side of the road about 7:30 p.m. The bicyclist was on Dixboro Road, just south of Joy Road in Ann Arbor Township trying to climb out of the ditch, deputies said. He had been riding south on Dixboro Road when he was struck, said sheriff’s department spokesman Derrick Jackson.

The bicyclist was able to describe the vehicle that hit him, and police sent the information out asking officers throughout the area to be on the lookout for the car.

About half an hour later, a trooper from the Brighton post of the Michigan State Police saw a car matching the description near U.S. 23 near North Territorial Road and arrested the driver, a 44-year-old woman, on suspicion of drunken driving and leaving the scene of an accident.

The vehicle had by that time been involved in another crash in which it ran off the road, police said. It had damage consistent with the crash involving the bicycle, they said. The driver was taken to the Washtenaw County Jail, where she is expected to be arraigned Thursday on criminal charges.

The bicyclist, also of Ann Arbor, was taken to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Superior Township, where he was listed in critical condition, Jackson said.

Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.

Comments

willyd

Thu, Mar 22, 2012 : 2:31 p.m.

I know this person. She is a good person, whose disease got the best of her. She had been working the program & had sobriety. She gave into her disease & made the poor choice of getting behind the wheel. We have all made poor choices before especially us alcoholics. What she needs is help with her disease. She feels remorse and wishes she had made better choices. In the state of mind she was in she did not even relize she had hit him. She would never have left the sence drunk or not she has a wonderful heart. My prays go out to the victim, William on a full & speedy recovery. They also go out to Morse & her family. May god help you through the rough road ahead.

pyrate3

Thu, Mar 15, 2012 : 10:35 p.m.

i know the driver she is facing very serious charges, she didnt know she hit the man,and was informed when they found her. she is very sick and all we can hope is this makes her see she very desperatly need help.

willyd

Thu, Mar 22, 2012 : 2:34 p.m.

I agree with you Kim is a wonderful person who needs help. I hope she gets it.

heresmine

Thu, Mar 15, 2012 : 4:43 p.m.

Her license shouldn't be taken away, just the car. Plus ankle bracelet after her 11 months in jail is served, but I'm just dreaming. Her wrist will hurt for a few minutes, but then she'll be back on the road.

grimmk

Thu, Mar 15, 2012 : 2:49 p.m.

While everything is still up in the air over the outcome on this sad tale, I do ponder what the punishment could be for the driver. Taking away the drivers license will do no good. Many people drive on suspended licenses. There needs to be another way to keep them from driving. With our new IDs maybe they can rig up a scanning system into the cars. Scan it and if your license is revoked the car won't start. But then it would have to be on ALL the cars, so it's not very probable. I wish it could be. I guess they could rig up the car for the breathalyzer test.

cornelius McDougenschniefferburgenstein jr. 3 esq.

Thu, Mar 15, 2012 : 6:28 p.m.

dont say that too loud.madd has big ears.

Jake C

Thu, Mar 15, 2012 : 3:35 p.m.

"There needs to be another way to keep them from driving." It's hard to drive if you're in jail. that seems simple enough.

5c0++ H4d13y

Thu, Mar 15, 2012 : 11:43 a.m.

She better get her wrist ready for a smart smack.

mohomed

Thu, Mar 15, 2012 : 11:24 a.m.

She will get a least 2 years probation, 5 days jail, and mandatory AA meetings once a month if she is found guilty. She might even have to pay a little restitution to the biker... maybe.

Polyjuce123

Thu, Mar 15, 2012 : 1:39 p.m.

Are you kidding? More like prison: Leaving the scene of a crime: Felony Driving While Intoxicated (Misdemeanor or Felony depending on offense) Causing great bodily harm with vehicle while intoxicated: Felony I see 3 charges here that carry a minimum of 2-5 years, I suspect (if she is tried in Washtenaw county) that this will be a minimum 8-10 year prison stay and rightly so. Speedy recovery to the cyclist!

Woman in Ypsilanti

Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 4:14 p.m.

People need to go to jail if they drive drunk and hurt someone.

Silly Sally

Thu, Mar 15, 2012 : 11:33 a.m.

Oh, @snapshot - The difference is very important. Why it is just as important as the the reasons behind the hate in the so called "hate crime" laws, where if an Asian man stabs a Hispanic man, calling him certain names, he is punished more harshly than if another Hispanic man were to do the exact same crime. In this example, I'm sure that the stabbed Hispanic man feels worse when an Asian man does the deed. So, this is very, important... Being serious, it should never make a difference, but the law can be oh, so silly, at times.

snapshot

Thu, Mar 15, 2012 : 5:03 a.m.

Several "distracted" drivers have been involved in accidents like this and few folks are promoting jail time for them....what's the difference to the person injured?

ranger007

Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 5:56 p.m.

They should but the end up back out on the streets behind the wheel doing the same thing over and over.

Craig Lounsbury

Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 3:52 p.m.

I hope the bike rider has a full recovery and I hope justice is served.

leezee

Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 3:20 p.m.

I really hope he is okay and I hope the driver is punished to the full extent of the law. Can we please, please not turn this into the whole "car vs. bike" thing AGAIN?

EyeHeartA2

Thu, Mar 15, 2012 : 2:15 p.m.

Judging from the 4 deleted comments, my guess is that the answer to your question is: Probably not.

Harry

Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 4:31 p.m.

I love to ride my bike but I say off roads especially at dusk. It hard enough for cars to see you but at dusk it is the worst. This has nothing to do with the article. With drunk drivers you never stand a chance anyways.

justcurious

Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 3:13 p.m.

Heard this going down on the scanner. They had a good description of the vehicle and it's damage. Officers did an excellent job of getting out the word and working with each other. People seem to be leaving the scene of accidents more, or are we just hearing about it more? I sincerely hope the bicyclist is going to be alright. I also hope the driver gets the punishment she deserves. I wonder what is happening in the other hit and run case with the man in the wheelchair?

cornelius McDougenschniefferburgenstein jr. 3 esq.

Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 7:38 p.m.

would you please tell me the frequency for m.s.p.?thank you.

a2grateful

Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 3:06 p.m.

Fortuitous aftermath of tragic event: 1) Deputy finds ands assists injured cyclist; 2) MSP arrests woman, while fleeing and still driving drunk, before she hit someone else. May good fortune continue in the complete healing of the cyclist!

Ypsi_Wings_Fan

Thu, Mar 15, 2012 : 5:39 p.m.

The second accident was single-car I take it? (its only implied in the story)