Police expect to finish investigation into crash that killed U-M student by end of the week
Ann Arbor police expect to submit their investigation into the crash that killed Sharita Williams to Washtenaw County prosecutors by the end of this week.
Sharita Williams
Facebook photo
The news comes one month after Williams died from her injuries suffered in the Aug. 7 crash. She died at University of Michigan Hospital Aug. 9 at the age of 20.
Sgt. William Clock said crash reconstructionists are close to finishing their investigation and expect to send their report to the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office.
“Myself and the other crash reconstructionists working on it are close to finishing it up,” Clock said in an email over the weekend. “We should have it to the prosecutor’s office for review by Friday.”
After the case is submitted, it’ll be up to prosecutors to determine if there will be charges filed against the driver.
A green Chevrolet Cavalier struck Williams about 3 p.m. Aug. 7 on Plymouth Road between Nixon Road and Traverwood Boulevard. Williams was crossing the street from north to south in a pedestrian crosswalk and was struck in the right eastbound lane, police said.
The Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacon (RRFB) lights at the crosswalk were activated and flashed for about 30 seconds before the crash took place, witnesses said. Other vehicles had stopped for Williams to allow her to make it nearly out of the roadway before she was hit.
Police interviewed the driver of the green Cavalier at the scene for an initial statement, but she declined a follow-up interview on the advice of her lawyer. She is allowed to drive while the investigation continues, and her license cannot be taken away unless charges are filed and a review is ordered.
Police did not do a sobriety test on the driver at the scene because they did not have any reason to believe the woman was intoxicated.
Williams was entering her junior year at the University of Michigan and was a native of Clinton Township.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
windjmar
Tue, Sep 10, 2013 : 4:11 a.m.
RIP, Sharita. Though i did not know you, i think about you often now after this horrific tragedy. And, I think a lot of the UofM students think about you too, since they don't seem to be as agressive stepping out into the campus roads as they did before you died. Although i was cautious while driving before, i am even more cautious now when driving in AA. When i saw how young and beautiful you were on FB, i pray no other families must suffer like your family and friends are, you were way too young to leave as you did ... hopefully the prosecutors office will do their duty and not sweep this under the rug.
GreenMan
Tue, Sep 10, 2013 : 1:22 a.m.
I dont see how anyone could miss these warning lights. Drivers often are distracted - texting, cell phone calls. Until we have laws against texting, watch out. Texting seems every bit as dangerous as drunken driving and penalties should be the same.
justcurious
Mon, Sep 9, 2013 : 7:58 p.m.
I am surprised that the investigation has taken this long. Especially since there were witnesses to the accident and physical evidence. It has been over a month already since the accident. "The Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacon (RRFB) lights at the crosswalk were activated and flashed for about 30 seconds before the crash took place, witnesses said. Other vehicles had stopped for Williams to allow her to make it nearly out of the roadway before she was hit."
cinnabar7071
Mon, Sep 9, 2013 : 5:37 p.m.
I've done my own investigation on this, and found the crosswalks to be unsafe. I've also found in my investigation that these death will continue until the one with the most to lose takes responibility for their own safty.
DJBudSonic
Mon, Sep 9, 2013 : 3:33 p.m.
All of the pedestrian crossings and crosswalk laws in Ann Arbor need a review by a competent traffic engineer. Flashing yellow means caution to most people, not stop. There are too many variations around town, too many signs. Sign fatigue is but one recognized problem with these crosswalks. Yes, we all are supposed to know that you are required to stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk. And yet... very confusing and very sad.
Silly Sally
Tue, Sep 10, 2013 : 12:54 a.m.
I do not want them all to flash red. If they did, then I would have to stop, even after th pedestrian has completed crossing and I can clearly see this. Yellow means "Caution", Oh, cross walk, 1) What does one do at a crosswalk. Stop if a person is in it. 2) not stop if there are no people around 3) only in Ann Arbor, be a mind reader and try to anticipate is someone is going to cross prior to them doing so. In the rest of the nation they would step off the curb, signaling that they want to cross and are not talking on their phone or turning the corner... \ What should a pedestrian do who is crossing? At the very least, ensure that traffic sees them and intend to stop instead of being dead right, but dead.
Barb
Mon, Sep 9, 2013 : 8:41 p.m.
Football games are different.
other
Mon, Sep 9, 2013 : 6:36 p.m.
I wished they flashed RED. when I was walking to the football game, a police officer was helping at the crosswalk across the bridge, at the flashing yellow designation! The police officer had to stop the cars.
Barb
Mon, Sep 9, 2013 : 3:47 p.m.
I don't know why it's so confusing to some people - if a crosswalk has a flashing yellow you do not proceed until you know it's clear. Not rocket science.
Barb
Mon, Sep 9, 2013 : 2:57 p.m.
I'd really like to see how this plays out because in my mind, when you kill someone in a crosswalk while driving, you're not operating your vehicle safely. I have yet to envision a plausible scenario where the driver should not be held responsible. Thanks for the update, Kyle.
Billy
Mon, Sep 9, 2013 : 2:52 p.m.
I am interested to see what the crash investigation will reveal. Kinda surprised it took this long, but maybe there is a reason and we'll see it when the report is finished.
LaMusica
Mon, Sep 9, 2013 : 2:50 p.m.
Sigh, this whole story is so sad. Even if no charges are filed against the driver, she still has to go through life knowing her actions killed someone.
Jack Gladney
Mon, Sep 9, 2013 : 7:31 p.m.
It's great to see someone who has first hand knowledge of what happened that terrible day commenting here. Hopefully you stuck around after the accident so the police could include your observations as part of the investigation report for the prosecutor.
djm12652
Mon, Sep 9, 2013 : 6:31 p.m.
or her alleged lack of actions....