WARREN, Mich – A Warren police pursuit ended in tragedy early Thursday morning when a fleeing vehicle ran a red light and slammed into an innocent driver who was pulling over for sirens.
Remeious Washington, 48, of Detroit, was killed at the intersection of 8 Mile Road and Schoenherr Road at approximately 1:58 a.m.
Family said he was just six minutes from home.
Chase begins with ski masks, suspicious driving
Police say officers on routine patrol attempted to pull over a silver Dodge Ram near Fairfield and Georgiana streets after spotting multiple occupants wearing ski masks while driving through neighborhoods.
When the Dodge reached the intersection of 8 Mile and Schoenherr, the driver t-boned Washington’s vehicle as he was in the process of moving over.
Suspects flee on foot; four juveniles arrested
After the crash, five juveniles jumped out of the truck and took off. Four were then arrested.
Investigators believe the group is responsible for at least 15 vehicle-related crimes that were reported throughout Warren within the last 48 hours.
Washington was transported to a local hospital by the Detroit Fire Department, where he was later pronounced dead.
The crash remains under active investigation by the Warren Police Department Detective Bureau and the Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit.
‘He was the heartbeat of all of us’
Washington’s sisters, Shay Washington and Khadijah Caldwell, described a man who was the anchor of their family — a dog dad, an uncle to all their kids and the one who always kept everyone together.
“He was the muscle. The strong. You know, the heartbeat of all of us,” Caldwell said.
“He was just lovable, happy. Every time you saw him, he had a smile,” Shay Washington said.
The family says Washington was minutes from his front door when he was killed.
“He was a victim. A victim that was following the law. Six minutes away from home,” Caldwell said.
Beyond their grief, the family is pressing Warren Police with questions about why the chase continued into a busy intersection.
They are also frustrated by how long it took officers to render aid to Washington after the crash.
“How long was the chase going to go? When was some backup going to say, ‘OK, let’s fall back because we are coming into a busy intersection where there could be innocent lives at stake?’” Caldwell said.
The family says responsibility lies with both the juveniles in the truck and the officers who pursued them.
“We want these kids to be where they’re supposed to be. We want these parents to be responsible for their children, but we also want the people that’s supposed to protect us to protect us,” Caldwell said.
Warren Police have not announced charges or the ages of the juvenile suspects. This story will be updated as information becomes available.