An 83-year-old man died after being struck by a vehicle he was working on in Highland Township, according to police.
Oakland County sheriff's deputies responded just before 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, to the parking lot of an auto parts store in the 3500 block of West Highland Road.
The Hartland Township man was working on a 1986 Jeep Cherokee while his 59-year-old daughter was in the driver's seat, according to the Oakland County Sheriff's Office. When she was told to start the Jeep, it "unexpectedly launched forward" and struck her father, officials said.
The man died early Monday, Aug. 31, police said.
“A family tragedy on so many levels,” said Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard in a statement.
The Oakland County Sheriff's Office Crash Reconstruction
Unit is investigating.
Investigators do not believe alcohol, drugs or speed contributed to the incident, according to the sheriff's office. They are examining whether the driver's unfamiliarity with the Jeep's manual transmission or a mechanical problem caused the vehicle to move forward.
“One of the most important things we can do when tragedy occurs is to look for lessons that will prevent them in the future," Bouchard said.
The sheriff's office urged people to take precautions when starting a vehicle during maintenance or repairs.
Vehicle maintenance safety tips:
- Make sure everyone is clear before starting the vehicle.
- Confirm the transmission is in park or neutral, as appropriate.
- Engage the parking brake.
- Use wheel chocks when necessary.
- Know how to operate the vehicle before starting it.
- Stay out of the vehicle's path during maintenance or repairs.
Driveway freak accident
In a separate incident, a 49-year-old Dearborn Heights woman and mother of five died after she was pinned between her vehicle and her home on Aug. 3.
The woman got out of her vehicle in her driveway while it was still in drive and tried to stop it while partially outside, officials said. The vehicle rolled forward and pinned her against the house for about 30 minutes before her son found her and reversed the vehicle.
Both incidents highlight the dangers of unexpected vehicle movement and the importance of making sure a vehicle is secured before getting out or working on it.
Nour Rahal is a trending and breaking news reporter for the Detroit Free Press. Email her at nrahal@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Oakland County man dies after car lurches forward during repair
