Crime & Safety

People Mover Train Dragged Man 14 Minutes Before Stopping: Report

The train went through multiple downtown stops before the man's body was removed, according to public documents.

Beth Dalbey's profile picture
Beth Dalbey, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge

Detroit, MI — A man who was killed on the tracks of the Detroit People Mover automated rail system was dragged for up to 14 minutes, through multiple downtown stops, before his body was removed from the tracks, according to public documents.

The Detroit Free Press, which obtained the documents under the Freedom of Information Act, said Michael Whyte, 53, of Detroit, stepped between two cars of the train on May 15.

The Wayne County medical examiner ruled the death accidental, according to The Detroit News.

Find out what's happening in Dearbornfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Several passengers alerted police there was a body on the tracks, according to the report. The People Mover staff was dealing with a power issue at the time the accident occurred, and a “loud knocking sound” was heard as the train continued down the tracks, according to the report.

The People Mover is currently shut down for track maintenance and a switch replacement project. It will reopen at 6:30 a.m. on Monday, June 27.

Find out what's happening in Dearbornfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

» For more on what public documents revealed about the accident, go to the Detroit Free Press.

Image credit: Michael Kumm via Flickr / licensed by Creative Commons

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Dearborn