DETROIT – Just six months after saying “I do,” grief is overwhelming the husband, mother, and family of 37-year-old Liesha Townsend, who was killed in a hit-and-run last weekend.
“When you took that person, you took my life,” said her husband, Deandre Townsend.
Townsend’s mother, Ulleisa Lovelady, said she is still struggling to comprehend the loss.
“I never thought the last time I seen her was the last time I was gonna see her. Or when I talked to her at 5 o’clock, that was gonna be the last time I ever heard from her,” Lovelady said.
The couple was headed to Liesha’s sister’s birthday party in Detroit on Saturday night when the crash happened, according to Detroit police. Deandre said they were crossing the street at Wyoming and Pembroke at around 10 p.m. when a red Chevy with tinted windows hit them, then backed up and sped away.
“The car turned out of nowhere. She said, ‘Aye!’ She rolled over. She tried to get herself up, but she couldn’t,” Deandre said. “I instantly was able to get up and chase this car down — tried to.”
Just seconds later, Detroit police said, a white Ford Explorer hit Liesha, dragging her before continuing north on Wyoming. Green Light camera footage captured video and photos of each suspected vehicle.
“You dragged her. She got kids. She left behind a husband. For y’all to just leave somebody down there — that’s wrong,” Deandre said.
Despite her husband’s pleas for her to hold on, Liesha’s injuries were too severe. Lovelady said she initially didn’t believe her daughter had died… even hours later.
“I wasn’t thinking she had passed away. I’m thinking she’s like really injured. It’s gonna take a lot of work to get her better,” she said.
Now, the family and police are urging anyone with information to come forward.
“You knew you took somebody’s life. You killed someone, and you could’ve stopped,” Deandre said.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Detroit Police Department’s Fatal Squad Unit at 313-596-2260, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-Speak-Up, or visit DetroitRewards.tv.
If you would like to and are able to help with Liesha’s funeral expenses, click here.