Police identify 5-year-old boy killed in head-on crash in Bridgewater Township
A 5-year-old boy killed in a head-on crash on an icy roadway in Bridgewater Township on Sunday was identified today as Mohammed Nasser.
Washtenaw County sheriff's officials said Mohammed was with his parents, traveling from their home in Topeka, Indiana, to the Detroit area to see relatives when the crash occurred on Michigan Avenue west of Lima Center Road at 2:20 p.m.
Mohammed's 38-year-old father was driving east on Michigan Avenue when he lost control of the car on a patch of ice and snow, reports said. The car crossed the center line and struck a westbound Ford pickup truck, reports said.
The father, Mohamed Yahya, was taken to the University of Michigan Hospital by helicopter in critical condition. Sheriff's Sgt. David Archer said today that Yahya is expected to survive, but has substantial injuries. He suffered severe facial injuries, and both legs are broken, police said.
Mohammed's 28-year-old mother, Hanah Harhara, was seriously injured.
The driver of the pickup, 52-year-old Christopher Gleason of Pittsfield Township, was taken to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital with non life-threatening injuries, reports said.
A report of the crash shows Mohammed Nasser was wearing a lap belt in the back seat, and his parents were not wearing seat belts. Gleason was wearing a seat belt, the report said.
The crash report said Yahya was driving too fast for conditions. The weather at the time included snow and blowing snow, according to the report.
Comments
Katie
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 11:03 p.m.
While you may be correct in your child safety information, I do not feel it is appropriate to be commenting with an "I told you so-" tone on this type of article. The father will undoubtedly be plagued by enough guilt without having to potentially come across this article and hear it from the rest of the world as well. Please out of respect for the family, do not use this as a platform for your information.
Kim Kachadoorian
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 11:15 a.m.
@Onohy Hha - It said he was in a lap belt. Lap belts are almost always fatal to children in a collision. If not fatal they suffer from life long catastrophic injuries. Lap belts and children are a bad mix.
Peggy
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 8:27 a.m.
Dear Onohy Hha, Do you think maybe the little boy had a heart attack? Come On, of course his death was because he was not restrained properly.
Onohy
Sat, Jan 1, 2011 : 12:06 a.m.
the death of the boy had nothing to do with the seat belt, the cause of his death is unknown. no one said the cause of the death is because the boy was not restrained properly.
Kim Kachadoorian
Thu, Dec 30, 2010 : 10:41 a.m.
"A report of the crash shows Mohammed Nasser was wearing a lap belt in the back seat, and his parents were not wearing seat belts." I am crushed when I hear of a child's death because they were not restrained properly in a motor vehicle. Myself and many other child passenger safety advocates worked for years to get a booster seat law passed in this state. This child was required by law to be in a proper child restraint for his height and weight in the State of Michigan. I am only speculating based upon my knowledge - but if the child was in a lap belt only there is little chance for survival - a 5-point harness child restraint or a booster seat (if child was of proper weight and height), properly installed, would have allowed the restraint system in the vehicle to operate the way it was intended and the child would have had a chance at survival. Please - if you are a parent or caregiver of a child make sure they are in the proper restraint for their weight, height and that the restraint is properly installed. Children rely on the adults to make the right decisions. Check your child's restraint today. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family involved.