Livonia Nurse Hit, Killed By Car While Helping Patient In Street: Cops

LIVONIA, MI — A nurse was fatally hit by a car Sunday morning while helping a patient who ran out of a Livonia nursing home and laid down in the middle of a busy road, according to police.

Police said the "uncooperative" patient walked out of the Majestic Care facility at 9:42 a.m. and laid down in the eastbound lanes on Five Mile Road between Middlebelt and Inkster roads.

Multiple nurses picked up the patient and put her in a wheelchair, and began pushing her back to the health facility, police said.

While they were pushing the patient back to the health facility, an 80-year-old driver swerved to avoid the wheelchair and hit the nurse, police said.

The 42-year-old Plymouth woman was taken to St. Mary Mercy Hospital, where she died, police said.

The driver also hit two other cars, police said. Officials did not report any serious injuries in the crash. Police do not believe alcohol played a factor in the crash.

Paul Pruitt, CEO of Majestic Care, said the facility is providing grief counseling and support services to its staff and residents and fully cooperating with investigators.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Care Team member's family, friends and colleagues as they cope with this unimaginable loss," Pruitt said. "She was an amazing caregiver that provided exceptional care to residents and created magic for all those around her. We recognize with admiration the dedicated care she gave serving as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and the calling she answered by always putting the lives of residents as a top priority."