Garden City police ask for help to find drivers in fatal hit-and-run

52-year-old man killed Monday night on Ford Road

GARDEN CITY, Mich. – Investigators in Garden City are asking for your help to find at least three drivers who were either involved in a deadly hit-and-run, or saw what happened.

George Punga, 52, was hit as he crossed Ford Road, east of Middlebelt Road, around 8:45 p.m. Monday.

His roommate, Fred Jennings, told Local 4 Punga was heading to the grocery store to get coffee.

"He had to have that coffee, every day," Jennings said. "I was always there for him, he was always there for me. We were just good friends."

Garden City Police Chief Robert Muery said it's still unclear exactly what happened.

Muery said Punga was hit in the westbound lanes by either a white SUV or a red minivan. He was then hit by a white Dodge Challenger, which had with dark tinted windows, in the eastbound lanes.

All of the drivers left the scene.

"It enrages me that someone would run down a human being, or two people would run down a human being, and then just leave him in the roadway to die," Muery said. "I can't even begin to fathom that."

However, it is possible the driver of the Challenger doesn't know what happened.

"We don't know where the victim may have hit the Challenger.  It could have been on the side. We're unclear on that from witness statements," Muery said.

Punga was taken to first to Garden City Hospital, but was then airlifted to the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor -- where he died.

"Our accident investigators collected 52 pieces of evidence from the roadway that I strongly suspect will assist us in identifying the vehicles," Muery said.

Garden City investigators would like any information you may have on the accident.  If you know something, please call 734-793-1700.


About the Author:

Nick joined the Local 4 team in February of 2015. Prior to that he spent 6 years in Sacramento covering a long list of big stories including wildfires and earthquakes. Raised in Sterling Heights, he is no stranger to the deep history and pride Detroit has to offer.