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CRASH DATE
Thursday, September 17, 2026
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TIME
≈ about 11 p.m.
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LOCATION
Eight Mile Road and Coolidge Highway, Oak Park, Oakland County
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By TruckCrash News Desk · Michigan Daily Crash Report
| Date & time | Thursday, September 17, 2026, about 11 p.m. |
| Location | Eastbound Eight Mile Road at Coolidge Highway, Oak Park, Oakland County |
| Vehicles | Dodge Charger; Buick Envision (Uber vehicle) |
| Injuries | Uber driver died at a hospital; a 23-year-old rear passenger was ejected and critically injured; the 19-year-old Charger driver had minor injuries; an 18-year-old Charger passenger was uninjured |
| Road impact | Not specified by police |
| Investigating agency | Oak Park Department of Public Safety, with the Oakland County Sheriff's Office |
What Happened
An Uber driver was killed and a passenger critically injured late Thursday night when a 19-year-old driver ran a red light and struck their vehicle at the intersection of eastbound Eight Mile Road and Coolidge Highway in Oak Park, according to the Oak Park Department of Public Safety.
Police said the 19-year-old was driving a Dodge Charger east on Eight Mile Road when he disregarded the traffic signal and hit a northbound Buick Envision operating as an Uber vehicle, which had the right of way. The Uber driver was extricated by the Detroit Fire Department and taken to a hospital, where they were pronounced dead. A 23-year-old passenger in the rear seat of the Buick was ejected in the crash and transported in critical condition.
The Dodge Charger driver suffered minor injuries and was taken into custody; an 18-year-old passenger in his car was not injured. Investigators said a preliminary review, including surveillance video, indicates intoxication was a factor in the Charger driver's actions.
While officers were on scene handling traffic control after the initial crash, a second driver struck an unoccupied Oak Park patrol car parked nearby. That driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.
Reporting: ClickOnDetroit (WDIV), CBS News Detroit and WXYZ, with information from the Oak Park Department of Public Safety.
The Investigation: What Happens Next
The case against the 19-year-old Dodge Charger driver has been referred to the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office for a charging decision. The Oakland County Sheriff's Office is assisting with crash reconstruction.
Oak Park Department of Public Safety Director Steve Cooper said in a statement: "Safe driving requires constant focus and responsible decision-making. A few simple choices can save lives."
The Legal Picture
Q1: How does a rideshare passenger get compensated after a crash like this? Uber and other rideshare companies carry substantial liability coverage that can apply when a driver is logged into the app, on top of any coverage carried by the at-fault driver. Michigan's no-fault system also provides PIP medical and wage-loss benefits regardless of fault.
Q2: What happens when the at-fault driver is suspected of DUI? A driver's intoxication, if proven, can support both criminal charges and a civil claim for damages beyond Michigan's no-fault benefits, including for a wrongful death. Nothing about this driver's ultimate culpability has been decided by a court.
Q3: Who can bring a wrongful death claim in Michigan? Generally, a personal representative of the deceased person's estate brings the claim on behalf of surviving family members. Deadlines and specific eligibility depend on the facts of each case.
Nothing in this section assumes anything beyond what officials have stated about this specific crash. Charges, if any, are for the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office to decide.
This Stretch of Road
Eight Mile Road is a major east-west arterial forming part of the border between Detroit and its northern suburbs, including Oak Park, and Coolidge Highway is a busy north-south route through Oakland County. Signalized intersections along Eight Mile Road carry heavy traffic well into the evening, and red-light-running crashes at wide arterial crossings like this one are frequently among the most severe crash types local departments respond to.
If You Saw This Crash
Anyone who witnessed the crash at Eight Mile Road and Coolidge Highway Thursday night, or who has dashcam or business surveillance footage of the intersection around 11 p.m., is asked to contact the Oak Park Department of Public Safety.
- ClickOnDetroit (WDIV): Uber driver killed, passenger ejected in Oak Park crash
- CBS News Detroit: Uber driver killed, passenger hurt in Oak Park two-vehicle crash
- WXYZ: DUI suspected in fatal two-vehicle crash involving Uber driver; Oak Park police investigating
About TruckCrash News: TruckCrash News publishes daily reports on traffic crashes across Michigan, drawn from official statements by police agencies and reporting from local news outlets. Our goal is to keep Michigan drivers informed about serious crashes, road closures, and traffic safety issues in their communities.
This article is based on information available at the time of publication from the cited sources. Details may change as investigations continue. Nothing in this article is legal advice, and nothing in it should be read as assigning fault or legal responsibility to any person. All persons are presumed innocent of any traffic offense unless established by the proper authorities.