Detroit Police Surveillance Operation Ends in Crash After Stolen Car Runs Stop Sign, Injuring Two Including Innocent Driver
DETROIT, MI — A Detroit police surveillance operation took a dangerous turn Wednesday afternoon when a stolen vehicle ran a stop sign and collided with an uninvolved motorist, leaving both drivers hospitalized in serious condition.
The crash occurred on the city’s east side near Hayes and 7 Mile, where Detroit’s Commercial Auto Theft Section had been monitoring stolen vehicles as part of an ongoing operation.
According to police, officers in the 9th Precinct spotted a vehicle they believed to be stolen and began tracking it from a distance. The driver, realizing police were nearby, began driving erratically through neighborhood streets, prompting officers to request air support to monitor the situation.
Police Say No Ground Pursuit Was Underway
Authorities emphasized that no active ground pursuit was taking place at the time of the collision. Instead, the suspect vehicle continued speeding through residential areas before ignoring a traffic signal and slamming into another car near the intersection of Hayes and 7 Mile Road.
Witnesses reported hearing a loud crash and seeing debris scattered across the roadway as officers rushed to secure the area.
“It looked like something out of a movie — the car just blew through the stop sign and hit that other vehicle head-on,” said one resident who lives near the intersection. “It was terrible.”
Both Drivers Hospitalized in Serious Condition
Emergency responders arrived within minutes, transporting both the suspect driver and the innocent motorist to a nearby hospital. Police confirmed that both are listed in temporary serious condition as of Wednesday evening.
Investigators said the stolen vehicle was heavily damaged, with significant impact to the driver’s side. The innocent driver’s car was also badly crushed in the collision.
Investigation Ongoing
Detroit Police confirmed that the crash remains under investigation, and that air unit footage and surveillance data are being reviewed to determine the exact sequence of events.
Officials said charges are expected against the suspect driver, who may face multiple felonies including vehicular assault, reckless driving, and possession of a stolen vehicle.
The Detroit Police Department is reminding the public that operations targeting auto theft suspects often require aerial monitoring and remote tracking to avoid high-speed chases on surface streets.
Residents in the 9th Precinct — an area that has seen a sharp increase in stolen vehicle cases in recent months — say they hope this incident sparks further review of how surveillance operations are handled in densely populated areas. For more local updates and public safety reports, visit SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
