DETROIT – Traffic safety concerns along Gratiot Avenue escalated Tuesday evening when a fatal crash occurred just hours after Detroit police conducted a traffic enforcement operation that resulted in dozens of speeding citations.
A laundromat employee who asked to be identified only as Gina said she sees dangerous driving on Gratiot Avenue every day.
“Your worst time on Gratiot is after 7 o’clock in the afternoon,” said Gina. “It’s just like a freeway. Accidents. Flying down the street.”
Neighbors said they were relieved to see officers out on the corridor earlier Tuesday (Sept. 10), pulling over multiple speeding drivers.
“Oh! They’re doing their job now! About time!” Gina said as the police made stops.
But hours later, police responded to a multi-vehicle crash on Gratiot Avenue.
The driver of the Impala was killed; three other people were reported in serious condition.
Gina said the latest fatality has made residents more wary.
“How can you go to work and do a living, and this is what you have to worry about? Scared to go on Gratiot, because half the people dodging, they don’t want to go on Gratiot,” Gina said.
The wreck adds to a string of recent deadly incidents on Gratiot Avenue this year.
Over the weekend, an SUV crashed into a new Coney Island restaurant, killing one person.
Last month, two young girls were killed in a crash.
In July, a crash at an old warehouse claimed two lives.
Two months earlier, police investigated a fatal hit-and-run involving a car and a couple riding scooters.
Authorities say speeding was a factor in each of those cases.
The posted speed limit along Gratiot is 35 miles per hour.
Community members say drivers often slow only when they see police near the road, then accelerate once they pass.
“If they see the police, they’re going to put their brakes on. When they pass the police, then they zoom!” Gina said.
Residents and advocates are calling for sustained enforcement and additional safety measures on the corridor to prevent further tragedies.
Suggestions from neighbors include increased police presence, targeted speed enforcement at peak hours, and engineering changes to calm traffic.
For now, neighbors say they want drivers to slow down.
“What’s the rush? Where are you going?” Gina asked. “These incidents can be avoided if drivers just slow down.”
If you have information about the crash or related incidents on Gratiot Avenue, please contact the Detroit police with your tips.