Farmington Hills, MI — January 1, 2026, Edward Detroit was killed in an early morning plow truck accident in the 23200 block of Middlebelt Road.
Authorities said a man was found on the side of the road near Eldon Street. Investigators determined he had been hit by a plow truck operated by the Road Commission for Oakland County.
The man, 68-year-old Edward Detroit, died after being taken to a local hospital, according to authorities.
The plow truck driver has been charged with failure to stop at the scene of a crash, authorities said.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Oakland County crash at this time.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When someone is killed by a government-operated plow truck, especially one that reportedly left the scene, people naturally wonder: how could something like this happen? Is the driver solely to blame? And will the investigation get to the truth?
Right now, all we know is that a man was struck and killed by a plow truck operated by the Road Commission for Oakland County, and that the driver is now facing charges for leaving the scene. But that leaves a long list of unanswered questions, starting with the most important one: Why did the crash happen?
It’s not clear whether the man was walking in the roadway, crossing the street or was somehow already on the ground when he was hit. We also don’t know what kind of visibility the driver had, whether the truck had any dash cameras or if the driver even knew he’d struck someone at the time.
Some may assume that criminal charges settle the matter. In my experience, they don’t. Criminal liability is about punishing certain acts, like fleeing the scene, but it doesn’t necessarily explain how the collision occurred or who bears ultimate responsibility. That takes a deeper investigation.
For example, government-operated vehicles like snowplows are often exempt from certain traffic rules under specific conditions. But that doesn’t mean they’re above scrutiny. Was the driver adequately trained? Was the truck properly maintained? Did the commission have clear protocols for operating in low-visibility conditions?
I’ve handled cases where drivers were held accountable for much more than just the moment of impact, because what led up to that moment often tells the real story. In one case, dash cam footage and driver logs painted a completely different picture from what the authorities initially assumed. That’s why securing the truck’s black box data, dash cam footage and driver records should be among the first steps here.
Until all of that is known, it’s premature to assume this was just a one-man mistake. Accountability starts with facts, not assumptions.
Key Takeaways:
- The key question isn’t just who left the scene, but what caused the crash in the first place.
- It’s unclear from public reports whether the driver saw the pedestrian or had time to react.
- Independent investigation should focus on visibility conditions, in-cab footage and the plow truck’s operational protocols.
- Criminal charges don’t always capture the full scope of civil responsibility.
- Evidence like black box data and driver history is crucial to understanding what really happened.
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