With public's help, Chesterfield Township police track down suspect driver involved in hit & run crash that injured 7-year-old girl

CHESTERFIELD TOWNSHIP (WWJ) - A male suspect accused of fleeing the scene after hitting and seriously injuring a young girl with his vehicle in Macomb County last month has been identified, police announced Friday.

The Chesterfield Township Police Department said a 28-year-old man from New Haven was revealed as the suspect and the Kia K5 he was driving at the time of the crash has been impounded.

According to the department, it was a combined effort from the public and their detective bureau that made the identification possible.

"With help from the public and much time and energy spent by the investigating detectives resulted in this suspect being identified," police stated. "The suspect is now cooperating with this continuing investigation."

Authorities have been on the case since April 28th when officers were dispatched to a hit-and-run pedestrian crash on Gratiot just north of 23 Mile Rd. around 9 p.m.

When police got to the scene, they found the victim, a 7-year-old girl, had sustained significant injuries. The driver that hit the child did not stop and fled northbound on Gratiot Ave.

At the time, police turned to the public for help in finding the suspect, who was believed to have been driving a white or black 2020 to 2022 Kia Optima sedan that would've had light damage to the front end.

The girl was transferred to an area hospital in critical condition. Police were happy to announce the 7-year-old is now at home with her family and is expect to recover with "much continuing medical care."

Criminal charges in the case are expected to be filed with the he Macomb County Prosecutor's Office as early as next week.

The department thanked everyone that called in tips that helped the investigation track down the driver allegedly responsible.