Monday morning collision happened along Schoenherr Road
WARREN, MI, (September 30, 2024) - The Warren Police Department released a statement regarding a fatal crash that occurred on Monday morning, resulting in the deaths of two men and injuries to two officers.
DeJuan Pettis was identified as one of two men killed in a crash Monday morning with a Warren police SUV. The officers – who were pursuing a break in suspect – were injured in the crash.
The incident happened around 5 a.m. on Schoenherr Road, between Toepfer Road and 8 Mile Road. Authorities reported that two Warren police officers were driving a marked patrol SUV on Schoenherr when they collided with a white Dodge Durango attempting to turn onto Prospect Avenue.
The driver and passenger of the Dodge Durango, aged 34 and 33, were pronounced dead at the scene. One of the victims was identified as 33-year-old DeJuan Pettis.
One officer had to be extricated from the patrol car and suffered broken bones and head trauma. Both officers were taken to a local hospital and are in stable condition.
Warren police confirmed that the crash was not the result of a chase. “At no time were these officers engaged in a pursuit of the white Dodge Durango or any other vehicle when the crash occurred,” the statement read.
Police clarified that they were pursuing a suspect related to a business break-in near the crash site a few hours later. Hayden and Pettis were not suspects in any business break-ins.
The Warren Police Department has requested the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office to conduct an independent investigation into the crash. They have promised to share more information with the public once the investigation is complete.
CRASH INVESTIGATION
In 2018, the U.S. Department of Transportation Fatality Analysis Reporting System recorded 33,654 fatal motor vehicle crashes in the United States, resulting in 36,560 deaths.
“Road conditions, visibility, and lighting are all potential contributing factors that are considered and examined,” stated Candice Bond, an experienced attorney and Managing Partner at Bond Legal.
“Sometimes, an accident reconstruction team is required to piece together what happened. All these resources are essential in helping clients receive financial compensation for damages or a loss after an accident,” added Bond.
WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM
Pending the investigation, the family of DeJuan Pettis could pursue a wrongful death claim. Relatives of wrongful death victims are entitled to seek damages for the loss of companionship, pain and suffering, and emotional distress following a tragic or catastrophic accident.
“The stress and sorrow can be extremely overwhelming after losing a loved one in an accident,” said Bond.
“We understand the hardships that families face, and it's crucial to protect their rights. A wrongful death lawyer will keep abreast of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are safeguarded."
If you or a family member have been involved in a situation similar to this article and would like to speak to our national legal analyst Candice Bond free of charge, please use the contact information found on this page.
(Candice Bond, our national legal analyst, is a Managing Partner at Bond Legal. Newsline can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-985-6515 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).