A Dearborn Heights woman, Nada Shukheyir, 49, a working, single mother of five, died after being trapped between her house and her own vehicle.
The Dearborn Heights Police Department received a call about a woman stuck under a vehicle at a residence in the 7200 block of Colonial Street on Monday, Aug. 3, at approximately 10:53 a.m., the city's director of communications, Mohamed Qasim, said in a statement sent to the Detroit Free Press on Tuesday evening, Aug. 4.
Officers who responded to the scene found the woman exited her vehicle in the driveway while it was still in drive, Qasim said. She attempted to stop the vehicle while partially outside of it, and the vehicle rolled forward, pinning her between the vehicle and her house for 30 minutes
before her son came outside, found her and reversed the vehicle, Qasim said.
Responding officers and paramedics arrived in less than 4 minutes and began CPR before she was transported to Corewell Health Dearborn Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Investigators reviewed video footage from the home and determined her death accidental.
"The Dearborn Heights Police Department extends its condolences to the family during this difficult time," Qasim said.
Family friend Hadi Saleh created a verified GoFundMe to support her family and the cost of her funeral and memorial services. The fundraiser has over $158,000 as of Thursday morning, Aug. 6.
According to the GoFundMe, her eldest son plans to step into the role of caring for his younger siblings. In a statement sent to the Free Press by Saleh, Shukheyir's 23-year-old son and his 21-year-old sister said their mom worked tirelessly and put their needs before her own.
"No matter how difficult life became, she faced every challenge with strength, love, and determination," according to the statement. "Her greatest joy was being our mom, and she made sure we always felt loved, supported, and cared for."
The statement described Shukheyir as radiant, beautiful, and having a heart of gold. She loved cooking and found joy in feeding her family, friends, and anyone who came through her door.
"Feeding others was one of the many ways she expressed her love, kindness, and generosity," her son and daughter said in the statement.
Their favorite memories with their mom include everyday moments like running errands, shopping and stopping for falafel sandwiches, according to the statement. They will miss her smile, contagious laugh and thoughtful surprises.
"She always knew how to make us laugh with her random jokes and had a way of bringing warmth and happiness into every room she entered," according to the statement.
The best way to support the family is through prayer, sharing, and donating to the GoFundMe, Shukheyir's children said in the statement.
"During one of the hardest times of our lives, seeing so many people come together to help us has been deeply comforting," they said. "We are truly grateful for every donation, kind message, prayer, and act of generosity. It means more to us than we could ever put into words."
A second fundraiser appeared on GoFundMe and has more than $70,000 as of Thursday afternoon. The fundraiser was not yet verified as of Thursday morning, though funds are held by payment processors until verification is complete, according to a GoFundMe spokesperson.
"As a single mother, she worked tirelessly to provide for us and always made sure we had everything we needed, even if it meant going without herself," according to the statement. "Her strength, sacrifice, and unconditional love shaped the people we are today. Although our hearts are broken, we are committed to honoring her memory by living with the same kindness, compassion, generosity, and selflessness that she showed every single day."
Contact Natalie Davies at ndavies@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Dearborn Heights mom of 5 dies in freak driveway accident
