Boy, dog killed when struck by car, Westland police say

Boy ran onto Wayne Road trying to catch his dog, police say

WESTLAND, Mich. – Family members are grieving after a 10-year-old boy ran into the street trying to catch his dog, and both got hit by a car and died.

It happened Saturday night between Avondale and Hazelwood streets in Westland.

The boy ran onto Wayne Road between Avondale and Hazelwood drives, trying to catch his dog, who had bolted out into the street.

Police said that's when they were hit by the car.

The boy was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said.

Police said the driver of the car was a 69-year-old woman. Drugs and alcohol do not appear to be factors in the crash, they said.

Relatives of the victim have identified the boy as Gage Carter of Westland.

 

The grandmother of Gage told Local 4 that the dog, named "Stitch," escaped when a family friend opened the front door. 

Gage's grandmother said Stitch usually runs around the yard, but for some reason went right into the street where the two were hit.

"My grandson just kept following him and I guess he just stepped off the curb and the car got both of them," said Margaret Carter, Gage's grandmother. 

"I was beside myself. I still can't believe it, he's only 10," Carter said.

Carter got the devastating phone call from her daughter telling her what happened and rushed to the hospital to see Gage.

"I just asked the doctor was he gone and she said 'Yeah," Carter said. 

Still doesn't seem real for Carter, who describes Gage as someone everyone wanted to be around.

"He was such a loving kid always having fun he used to come here a lot and stay on the weekends with his little brother," Carter said.

Though she and other family members are holding on to precious memories, the heartache is just too much to bear.

"The minute his name is mentioned everybody breaks down," Carter said. 

And Carter knows that grief isn't going away any time soon.

"I haven't been able to stop shaking since I got to the hospital last night. I just keep thinking it's a bad dream, but I know it's not," Carter said. 

The family has set up a GoFundMe account for funeral expenses. 

Celebrating the life of Gage

This Saturday, Gage’s friends, family and the community are invited to a benefit at US 12 Bar and Grill in Wayne to celebrate Gage’s life and support the family.

“I don’t want anybody to forget him,” said Gage’s father, Shaun Gillespie. “I want to invite everyone to US 12 to celebrate a boy that was larger than life itself.”

$20 drink ticket wristbands will be sold at the door. There will be a 50-50 raffle and gift basket auction. 50% of all proceeds go to the family and funeral costs. A portion of the proceeds will also go to the Michigan Humane Society.

“This story personally touched my heart,” said John Goci, owner of US 12 Bar. “I have an 11 year old son who constantly runs after his dog and this is a parent’s worst nightmare.”

  • WHEN: Saturday November 5th, 6 p.m. - Midnight
  • WHERE:  US 12 Bar and Grill- 34824 W Michigan Ave, Wayne, MI 48184

“This is chance for everybody, including the community to come and honor my son, he wouldn’t want it any other way.”
 

 

Sign up for ClickOnDetroit Email Newsletters (click here).