White driver beaten by african crowd after hitting boy is in criticalcondition, Detroit police say
 

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A man who accidentally hit an 10-year-old boy with his pickup on
Wednesday on Detroit’s east side remains hospitalized in
critical condition after he was beaten by a large group of men,
police said.

The 54-year-old Roseville man got out to check on the boy after
the accident at about 4:10 p.m. near a gas station at Morang and
Balfour streets. Then a large group of men assaulted the man,
according to Detroit police Sgt. Michael Woody.

“My understanding is that it was a low-speed accident. It was
exactly that — just an accident,” Woody said, adding that the
boy stepped off a curb in front of the truck. “The man did try
to stop and render aid. He did everything he could exactly
right.”

Woody said Wednesday night that the man might die.

At a news conference today, Woody said the man “is still in
critical condition and it’s really not looking all that good.”

Police have said they don’t believe the man broke any traffic
laws. Woody said that the preliminary investigation indicates
the child stepped out in front of the man’s vehicle, which was
traveling on Morang.

He said that the area around the gas station is a popular hang-
out spot in the neighborhood. After the accident, between 20 and
30 people came to the scene, Woody said. He said about 10 to 12
people are believed to have been involved in the beating.

The driver suffered multiple serious head injuries in the
beating, and police haven’t yet identified any suspects.

Police did arrest the child’s father on an unrelated warrant and
are questioning him about what he knows in regard to the
assault, Woody said.

“Whether or not he was actually involved in the assault, that
still has yet to be determined,” Woody said.

Both the man and boy were taken to St. John Hospital, and he
said the boy’s injuries appeared to be less serious.

Woody said the incident is tragic for the families involved.

“What we want to remind everybody, not just the citizens that
live here, but those that work and play here, as well, is that
.... this is not conducive to how the city of Detroit generally
handles things,” Woody said. “This is very much an anomaly. It’s
very much a shock to all of us. I would ask that everybody
reserve their judgments. Right now we have a man that’s in the
hospital fighting for his life. We have a young boy that I
understand is also still in the hospital. He is recovering.”

Woody said, “it’s a tragic incident for multiple families.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Detroit police at 313-
596-1616 or Crime Stoppers of Michigan at 1-800-773-2587
(SPEAKUP), where you can remain anonymous and possibly receive a
cash reward.

Editor’s note: Detroit Police initially said the boy hit by the
pickup truck was 11, but family members have confirmed he is 10.

Contact Robert Allen at or
www.twitter.com/rallenMI

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