ROSEVILLE (WWJ) - A missing 14-year-old boy was struck and killed early Friday morning while on an entrance ramp to I-696 in Macomb County, authorities say.
Michigan State Police said they are investigating what led to the crash which occurred around 4:25 a.m. on the Groesbeck entrance ramp onto eastbound I-696 in Roseville.
According to state police, a 911 caller reported seeing a person walking along the freeway/entrance ramp. Shortly after, another caller reported that a pedestrian in the same area may have been struck.
"Troopers and Roseville PD officers arrived on scene and began CPR," MSP said in a 8:10 a.m. update on social media. "Unfortunately, these efforts were unsuccessful and the pedestrian was pronounced dead on scene."
Witnesses told troopers that they saw the individual "stumbling" while walking along the road before he was hit.
The victim has been identified as a 14-year-old male from Warren. Warren Police Commissioner William Dwyer told WWJ that the victim was reported missing by family members at 4:45 a.m.
WWJ's Mike Campbell was live at the scene where troopers opened the ramp to traffic after closing it down for several hours to search the area for evidence, including a neighborhood to the south of the freeway.
"This is the on ramp from the Service Drive eastbound, just east of Hayes and onto I-696 east," Campbell explained. "It's right at the bottom of the ramp."
Campbell said there is no vehicle at the scene, but evidence of a crash were evident. Remnants of a headlight remain scattered on the roadway while a toppled light pole leaning over the embankment to the freeway could be seen at the intersection of Hayes and the eastbound Service Drive.
"A gate that is open as well," Campbell added. "I'm not sure if anything occurred there that is down and resulted in what's at the bottom of the ramp here. However, when I got here, the light at Hayes and the eastbound Service Drive was flashing red."
Troopers were seen earlier speaking with a neighbor at her home. She was apparently woken up by the crash and ran outside in only her underwear to see what happened.
"I saw the woman getting dressed at that corner house, but it looked like she was cooperating with police," Campbell said.
Troopers remain on scene at this time. MSP 1st Lt. Mike Shaw said the driver who allegedly struck the boy did not stop and troopers are concentrating their efforts to track them down.
“We are asking anyone who may have witnessed this crash to call 855-MICH-TIP or Crime Stoppers at 800. SPEAK-UP," Shaw said. "While we do have evidence from our on scene investigation, we still need to fill in those final pieces and are looking for witnesses.”
Shawn said in addition to physically searching the area, investigators will use technology to identify the vehicle involved in this crash.
The investigation is currently pending a report from the medical examiner as well as additional evidence. No other details were released.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned to WWJ LIVE for the latest updates.
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