Blogs > Driving Fitz Me

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Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Police close freeway for way too long

My heart and best wishes go out to the unnamed pedestrian who was critically injured crossing I-94 in Roseville. It happened Tuesday morning, Dec. 18, while the man was trying to cross I-94 near Little Mack Avenue, Michigan State Police said.
The unidentified man, described only as white and approximately 30 years old, was struck by a vehicle shortly after 6 a.m. in westbound traffic.
The incident and the ensuing police investigation forced the closure of the westbound lanes of the freeway, causing a multi-mile rush hour backup, for approximately three hours. 
THREE HOURS. Was it really necessary to close one side of the freeway for three hours? You can be sure hundreds of people were late for work. Some of those may have gotten in trouble for being late. Maybe someone got fired.
Was it really necessary to inconvenience so many people?
Are the police so thorough in such investigations because they know lawyers will pick away at any and all loopholes?
Or are cops looking for overtime pay? Who knows. I tend to blame the lawyers and the legal system that they have created.
This accident is an open and shut case. No matter which driver hit the pedestrian, it is the pedestrian's fault. End of story. Because pedestrians are not allowed on the freeway and everyone knows that. Did police really need to take pictures and take measurements for THREE HOURS.
The incident remains under investigation.
Initial news reports stated the man died at the scene. However, State Police Lt. Michael Shaw said in a press release Tuesday afternoon that the man was transported to a hospital prior to troopers arriving at the scene. Troopers went to the hospital to identify the victim and learned he had survived.