Woman and pet hedgehog in rollover accident on U.S. 23
A hedgehog, similar to the one pictured above, was uninjured in a rollover accident on U.S. 23 Thursday.
AnnArbor.com file photo
A 33-year-old Ypsilanti woman who was taking her hedgehog to the vet Thursday afternoon was run off the road and had to be transported to the hospital with minor injuries after her vehicle rolled over, officials said.
The hedgehog emerged unscathed.
Authorities were dispatched to the accident on U.S. 23 near Geddes Road at 3:20 p.m., said Joyce Williams with Huron Valley Ambulance.
The woman was run off the road, causing her vehicle to flip over. The motorist in the other vehicle kept driving, authorities said.
The woman had to abandon her hedgehog when she was taken to St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital in stable condition and asked authorities to care for it.
When fire officials arrived, the hedgehog was in a pouch the woman was holding, said Lt. Aaron Blackford of the Ann Arbor Township Fire Department. The Humane Society of Huron Valley arrived at the scene of the accident to care for the hedgehog in the woman's absence until family members could retrieve it.
"The woman said there was glass everywhere" when the call came in, Blackford said.
John Counts covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at johncounts@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
Anna
Fri, Jun 28, 2013 : 4:58 p.m.
Another reported swipe-and-run? Shame on the driver who contributed to her accident and then kept going. I just read an article on aa.com in the last week or so recounting the US-23 N hit-and-run that caused two child fatalities. This article immediately made me think of that tragic story. I'm so happy that this one has a happier outcome.
justcurious
Fri, Jun 28, 2013 : 12:34 p.m.
Dogs and cats are pets. Hedgehogs are wild creatures that deserve to live free.
emerald12
Fri, Jun 28, 2013 : 2:05 p.m.
Pet hedgehogs cannot survive in the wild here. Our temperatures are far too low for them. There are no native hedgehogs in this country, and should not be released to the wild. If anyone is interested in hedgehogs as pets, do a lot of research. They are really cute animals, but they are not interactive like a dog or cat and do have many special needs.
Dirty Mouth
Fri, Jun 28, 2013 : 12:04 p.m.
Animals should always be transported in a pet carrier secured in the backseat. 10 to 1 she had this little guy on her lap and dropped him.
Steve Burling
Fri, Jun 28, 2013 : 2:30 p.m.
According to the article, "the hedgehog was in a pouch the woman was holding". Or are you suggesting that after her car flipped, she fumbled around, found the hedgehog, and put him in the pouch?
GoNavy
Fri, Jun 28, 2013 : 11:49 a.m.
Proper adjustment of side mirrors, and the repeated emphasis on checking one's blind spot should be drilled into new drivers in drivers education training. Sadly, I've met many individuals who have no clue how to do either.
GoNavy
Sat, Jun 29, 2013 : 4:20 p.m.
@anna: Hmm...do you think I might have meant the driver who forced the woman off of the road? Hmm.
Anna
Fri, Jun 28, 2013 : 5 p.m.
Uh? If your referring to the vehicle/driver reportedly involved in this woman's accident, there is no indication he/she was a "new driver."
nickcarraweigh
Fri, Jun 28, 2013 : 11:13 a.m.
That's the dirty little secret about them hedgehogs, it's always "mine, mine, mine, mine, mine".
leezee
Fri, Jun 28, 2013 : 2:56 a.m.
Are you sure the woman was driving? Maybe she was taking the fall for the hedgehog's bad driving? Seriously, I hope she's okay and kudos to HSHV for stepping up.
mady
Sun, Jun 30, 2013 : 5:55 p.m.
Maybe the hedgie took driving lessons from Toonces.....
Corrington
Fri, Jun 28, 2013 : 1:43 a.m.
Good happy ending! (...and I hope he didn't lose all of his gold rings.)
Anna
Fri, Jun 28, 2013 : 5:01 p.m.
Ba dum tss!
cibachrome
Fri, Jun 28, 2013 : 1:11 a.m.
A person rushing to a vet will often take chances with more aggressive driving if the animal is hurting or the owner is late. On the other hand, a driver with a pet on-board will often drive more carefully. A few more facts could explain this. What time was the appointment and where was the vet's office ? Its really that simple.
Nicholas Urfe
Fri, Jun 28, 2013 : 1:26 p.m.
@grimmk: there were no witnesses mentioned in the story to corroborate the claim of another vehicle causing the accident.
grimmk
Fri, Jun 28, 2013 : 7:18 a.m.
What part of RUN OFF THE ROAD don't you understand? She didn't run herself off. None of your questions have any standing or offer any merit to this investigation.
Mike
Fri, Jun 28, 2013 : 2:19 a.m.
Huh?
WalkingJoe
Fri, Jun 28, 2013 : 12:40 a.m.
Nothing like a good happy ending story after an afternoon of severe weather.
An Arborigine
Fri, Jun 28, 2013 : 12:29 a.m.
Enquiring hedgehogs want to know, was hedgie belted in?
Nar
Fri, Jun 28, 2013 : 12:13 a.m.
Hedgie vs. airbag. I'm not sure who would win.
mady
Sun, Jun 30, 2013 : 5:54 p.m.
I'm betting on the hedgie.
lynel
Fri, Jun 28, 2013 : 12:03 a.m.
I want a hedgehog.
mady
Fri, Jun 28, 2013 : 1:31 p.m.
lynel, I do too, but my cat won't let me.......
Linda Peck
Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 11:12 p.m.
It was very nice that the Humane Society came to the rescue, once again. I was afraid to read this story, but am so glad woman and her hedgehog are going to be fine.
Scott Marecle
Fri, Jun 28, 2013 : 2:36 a.m.
just shows people dont care for human life,to see her car flip over and drive on at this time of day they was either stoned or had warrants,or shouldn't be driving in the first place...HOPE THIS WOMEN GETS WELL AND GETS HER PET BACK....