6-month-old boy killed in hit-and-run; Detroit police search for driver

3 other children injured in crash

DETROIT – A neighbor said the screams Thursday night from the kids and the mother were so horrifying she will never be able to forget them. 

It was about 8:30 p.m. when a silver Pontiac Grand Prix T-boned a minivan at the intersection of the Archdale Street and Puritan Avenue, which is near the Southfield Freeway south of West McNichols Road. 

The van was hit so hard it flipped and rolled over. There were six people inside -- a mother, grandmother and four children ages 6 months, 2 years, 4 years, and 12 years old. All four children were thrown from the van after the windows shattered. The 6-month-old boy was killed. The rest of the people in the minivan suffered non-life-threatening injuries. 

"When I stepped outside I saw three children on the ground. The mom was picking one up and she was hysterical ... someone from down the street, one of our neighbors, rushed them to the hospital," said a neighbor who did not want to be named in this story. 

Now police are trying to track down the other vehicle and the driver. 

"That vehicle fled the scene, did not stop to render aid or assist those that were injured in this crash," said an officer at the scene. 

Police are asking for people to be on the lookout for a silver Pontiac Grand Prix with severe front-end damage. If you see this vehicle or know anything about the driver please contact Detroit police or Crime Stoppers at 800-SPEAK-UP. 

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About the Authors:

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

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.