Crime & Safety
Driver in Hit-and-Run Faces Felony Charges
Pedestrians crossing against light after bar closing is a growing problem, police say.
(Originally published Oct. 17, 2016) FERNDALE, MI – A 27-year-old Gibraltar woman will stand trial on felony charges after a hit-and-run incident last month in Ferndale. Gina Hovell is accused of striking a Sterling Heights woman, 30, as she crossed southbound Woodward Avenue at Nine Mile Road in a crosswalk with about 10 other people around Sept. 10.The injured woman suffered serious head injuries that left her unconscious and in critical condition.
Hovell remains free on $25,000 cash bond. She waived her right to a preliminary examination Thursday in Ferndale 43rd District Court and was ordered to trial in Oakland County Circuit Court, The Daily Tribune reported.
Ferndale Police Lt. William Wilson said that the outlook for the Sterling Heights woman remains unknown.
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Police said that Hovell, who had a green light, failed to slow down or stop after hitting the woman. The accident highlighted a common occurrence in downtown Ferndale when bars close for the night and pedestrians cross Woodward against traffic signals.
» For more on this, go to The Daily Tribune.
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