Man killed, woman hurt when speeding SUV slams into pole in West Bloomfield, police say

Intersection of 14 Mile, Orchard Lake roads reopens

A speeding SUV crashed into a pole at 14 Mile and Orchard Lake roads in West Bloomfield on May 8, 2019, killing one person and injuring another, police said. (WDIV)

WEST BLOOMFIELD, Mich. – A man was killed and a woman was hospitalized Wednesday when an SUV smashed into a light pole during a chase in West Bloomfield, police said.

UPDATE: Woman hurt in West Bloomfield crash on life support

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Officials said the driver sped away from a Farmington Hills police officer who was trying to perform a traffic stop early Wednesday morning.

Farmington Hills police called off the chase because it was too dangerous. When the SUV sped up Northwestern Highway, the driver lost control in a roundabout and slammed into a pole at full speed, according to authorities.

A male passenger was killed and a woman inside the SUV was badly injured, police said.

The SUV hit the pole so hard the engine flew into the street, officials said. The crash left a debris field as long as a football field, according to police.

The intersection of 14 Mile and Orchard Lake roads was closed for hours during the morning rush, authorities said. It reopened around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

A crash at 14 Mile and Orchard Lake roads in West Bloomfield on May 8, 2019, caused the engine of an SUV to fly out into the road. (WDIV)
Police said a crash at 14 Mile and Orchard Lake roads in West Bloomfield on May 8, 2019, left a debris field as long as a football field. (WDIV)
An SUV smashed into a pole at 14 Mile and Orchard Lake roads in West Bloomfield on May 8, 2019
The scene of a crash at 14 Mile and Orchard Lake roads in West Bloomfield on May 8, 2019. (WDIV)

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Local 4 Defender Shawn Ley is an Emmy award-winning journalist who has been with Local 4 News for more than a decade.

Derick is the Lead Digital Editor for ClickOnDetroit and has been with Local 4 News since April 2013. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports.