Two pedestrians hit in separate incidents on Eight Mile

MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. - Two people are injured on Eight Mile in Macomb County after getting hit by cars in two separate incidents - the youngest a 13-year-old girl.

For officers on the streets in Warren, Detroit and Eastpointe, there have been more calls for people hit by cars, than usual. Most of them jaywalkers along Eight and Nine Mile roads, wanting to get across the street to pick up food or drinks, but not wanting to walk far for a crosswalk.

"I turned around and seen her on the ground, “said Amanda Gonzalez.

Amanda and her friend are praying hard for Amanda's 13-year-old sister Brittney, a seventh grader at Chatterton Middle School in Warren.

The three were crossing Eight Mile Monday evening with a couple other friends to get something for dinner.

"She turned around and she said wait, 'One of our friends are behind,' I was like OK, we're going to wait," Amanda said. "And then soon, we were waiting and turn around and soon we were waiting and  (saw) her walking out and she got hit."

Brittney is in critical condition. She has broken bones in her face and internal bleeding. Amanda and her friend Alexis will always wish they had taken the extra steps to a cross walk.

"I just hope everybody prays for her because she's in the hospital," Amanda said.

A couple hours later, further up the road in Eastpointe, a man is hit jaywalking across the same eight lanes of busy Eight Mile traffic Feathers from the man's coat mark the spot where he was hit, then transported to the hospital with some serious injuries. He is expected to survive.

"I saw when they strapped him in and carefully put him on the ambulance bed," said Aramis Hinds who lives in Eastpointe. "It's not a good place to hang out. You can't always see what's going on off of Eight Mile. Cars go so fast down the road."

In both cases, the drivers stopped and are cooperating with police.  Police in Eastpointe have seen too many cases just like this in the past month. Two people have been hit and killed in Warren on Nine Mile. In Eastpointe, police say, at least three others were hit on busy roads.

"Eight Mile Road especially at that time of day, is a very busy and hazardous roadway," said Sgt. William Reichling of the Warren Police Department. "Your best bet if you're going to cross, use the crosswalk."

It may not be the most time convenient, but using a cross walk could keep your family from a devastating situation like Britney's.

"I pray that she's okay," Amanda said.

Brittney Gonzalez is being kept sedated in a dark room and doctors say the next 48 hours will be crucial for them to see if the swelling in her brain goes down. The family wants to share that they really appreciate everyone's thoughts and prayers.