Driver hit by officer's car suing city of Ypsilanti

Officer found at fault in crash last year

YPSILANTI, Mich. – Local 4 News first showed video in September of a police officer's car crashing into another vehicle in Washtenaw County. The officer was found at fault, but now the victim in the crash is suing the city of Ypsilanti.

The traffic report said Officer Ashley Kofahl, 28, was going 57 in a 35 mph zone with no police siren when the accident happened last year.

Police dashcam video shows Kofahl driving east on Michigan Avenue in Ypsilanti. She was answering a call for a silent bank alarm.

Dispatchers are heard saying the alarm had been canceled seconds before Kofahl approached the intersection of Michigan and Washington.

After the crash, Kofahl could be heard moaning in pain.

Video from an officer's car who was driving behind Kofahl showed her turn the emergency lights off after dispatch canceled the call just seconds before the crash.

Kofahl's light was green. The light was also green for Anthony Collins, 26, who was attempting to turn south onto Washington from westbound Michigan Avenue.

Both cars crashed near the side of a building.

According to the incident report, Kofahl suffered a broken ankle. Collins was suspected to have a head injury.


About the Author:

You can watch Kimberly Gill weekdays anchoring Local 4 News at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. and streaming live at 10 p.m. on Local 4+. She's an award-winning journalist who finally called Detroit home in 2014. Kim has won Regional Emmy Awards, and was part of the team that won the National Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Newscast in 2022.