GRAND RAPIDS, Mich — A young woman was seriously injured Monday afternoon in a hit-and-run crash.
The incident happened around 4 p.m. on Monroe Avenue NW near an intersection. Police responded to the area on reports of a jogger struck by a white SUV, which then fled the scene.
The victim, a 19-year-old woman from Rockford, was taken to an area hospital. Police say she was last known to be in serious condition.
Investigators with the GRPD Traffic Unit responded to the crash to examine the scene and reconstruct the crash. Evidence recovered suggests the suspect vehicle may be a Kia Sorrento.
Witnesses described seeing a male driver in the car at the time of the crash. The incident is currently under investigation.
It's a close call that one dad says happens far too often near Riverside Park.
"I have a two-year-old daughter and a dog we're training, and on our walk to the park, we got cut off by a driver with total disregard, not even eye contact, slowing down or watching for pedestrians," Roman Mathews says. "It's a little concerning due to how many people are speeding down the street."
Other parents say they're concerned about the speeding in the area too.
"With my daughter, sometimes we take bike rides and I take a small trailer behind me, and we notice traffic goes very fast down Monroe (Northwest), especially around rush hour, so we avoid it," Craig Griffith says. "It just makes me nervous as a dad."
The bike path along this stretch of Monroe Northwest was added a few years ago, and Bicyclist Peter DeBoer who lives around the corner says people often drive over the path line.
"It's very dangerous for those of us who are either walking our dog, walking or bicycling on the bike path that's right next to the street there," he says. "It's kind of a dangerous design."
Steve Guitar, city of Grand Rapids Media Relations Manager, issued a statement, saying:
"The City of Grand Rapids and its Mobile GR department continue to endorse policies and programs to support pedestrians and bicycling year-round on safe, connected, high-quality pathways. Grand Rapids’ dedicated and shared bike facilities are designed in accordance with industry best practices and guidelines, including from the National Association of City Transportation Officials, the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. We encourage all motorists to be aware of their surroundings while driving."
Anyone with information is asked to contact investigators:
- Sergeant Rob Veenstra (616) 456-3771. rveenstr@grcity.us
- Officer Justin Ewald (616) 456-4282. jewald@grcity.us
- Officer Anthony Bailey (616) 456-3938. abailey@grcity.us
Anonymous tips may be made to Silent Observer at (616) 774-2345 or www.silentobserver.org.
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