Northville Police Continue to Investigate Fatal Accident

It may be weeks before a full investigation into the – killed while riding his bicycle down Seven Mile Road near Silver Springs Drive – is complete, Northville Township's top public safety official said.

Police chief John Werth said in an interview Monday that the accident, which occurred on Sept. 9, requires a variety of reports before any conclusions are made about what caused the accident. On that list are  toxicology, medical examiner, interview and investigators’ reports from the scene. At the close of the investigation, all of the information gathered will be presented to the prosecutor for review, he said.

“These things don’t get resolved overnight,” he said. “It’s too early to determine what happened.”

Werth added that accident investigators will attempt to recreate the scene. They’ll gather information about the weather, speed and a slew of other factors as they attempt to piece together what happened the night of the man’s death. They’ll also continue to examine the man’s bicycle as well as the car that hit him.

As for now, it is unclear whether speeding, distracted driving or unlawful bicycling played any role in the accident.

Werth added that the bicyclist was carrying cans of beer at the time of the accident. The driver, who was checked for intoxication at the scene, was not driving drunk, Werth said.

In late July, by a car on Seven Mile just east of where the bicyclist was killed.

With tight financial times, he said, there are no plans for a walking path or sidewalk along Seven Mile in the township.

Come back to Northville Patch for updates.