Detroit Hit-and-run Deaths Highlight City`s Woes

Aug. 19--Two men were lying in the street. One wasn't moving. The other, breathing heavily, moved his hand.

About 100 feet away, near the intersection of Gratiot and Russell, was a Hulk hand used by one of the men to collect money from fans outside Comerica Park. The other man's wheelchair -- which he sat in as Detroit Tigers fans made their way to and from games -- had been knocked away from his body.

Gregory Holm rushed out of his Detroit home to the dark street, as rain poured down. It was early on July 27, moments after a driver had struck the two men and sped off.

While an ambulance arrived 10 minutes after being dispatched, it would be 40 minutes before the first police officer got to the scene, according to department records.

The deaths of the two men who were a familiar sight around Comerica Park -- James Van Horn, 66, known as the "Eat 'em up, Tigers" guy and Michael Alston, 55, known as Dreadlock Mike because of his distinctive hair -- symbolize many of Detroit's pervasive public safety problems: streetlights that don't work and slow response times to emergencies in a city where hit-and-run crashes are too frequent.

According to statistics from the Michigan State Police Office of Highway Safety Planning, 18 people died in hit-and-run crashes in Detroit in 2012 -- representing 39% of fatal hit-and-runs in the state. In 2011, 20 people died in hit-and-runs in Detroit, nearly 38% of the state total that year.

When Holm got to the men, he recognized Alston immediately. Holm, 42, had given him money, including a $100 bill, when he saw him around town.

"His hand was opening as if he needed help," Holm recalled. "I told Mike that I was calling an ambulance just to let him know I was trying to get help."

Neither of the men said said a word. Then Alston stopped breathing.

"I was looking into (Alston's) eyes, and he was looking back at me," Holm said. "Certainly, I'm the last person he saw."

Nearby business lights were off, and three of the four streetlights near the intersection where the men's belongings were found -- including a blanket, hat, and the Hulk hand -- didn't work, witnesses said.

EMS had left by the time the first officer arrived at the scene. They'd already transported the men to Detroit Receiving Hospital, where they were both pronounced dead on arrival shortly after 3 a.m.

It's unclear whether a faster response could have made a difference in trying to save the men, who both died from multiple blunt-force trauma. But witnesses said they believe lighting conditions in the area were a factor in the crash.

"When I moved in, they were all working," said Miles Michael, 36, who also got to the scene before the ambulance arrived and has lived in the area for two to three years. "It was hard to see."

Crash spurs changes

Holm yelled at his teenage nephews to get an orange cone and bring a light to let other drivers know to stay away from the lane by the curb where the men were lying.

"I called 911 three or four times," Holm said, noting the first call was placed about 2:32 a.m.

As he waited for help, Holm called people who lived in the area to assist. Michael was one of those people and jumped up and down, waving his arms to try to get cars to slow down.

"We were just trying to prevent another accident," Michael said.

Detroit police and EMS officials said records show officers were dispatched to the scene at 2:33 a.m., and EMS was dispatched at 2:34 a.m. EMS arrived at 2:44 a.m. and left at 2:59 a.m. The first police unit arrived at 3:13 a.m.

"Ten minutes from the time of dispatch to the time to the time of arrival ... it's better than what our average is within the last couple of months," Detroit EMS Superintendent Jerald James said.

The police delay stemmed from other priority calls that night, Detroit police spokeswoman Sgt. Eren Stephens said.

"When a unit became available, we dispatched the unit," she said.

The vehicle that hit the pair was long gone by the time the first 911 call came in. Police say drivers flee accident scenes for a variety of reasons, including driving without a license or on a suspended license, warrants for their arrest, drinking and driving or because they're at fault and think they can get away before anyone sees them.

Some living in the Eastern Market neighborhood where the men were killed are taking action, contacting Eastern Market officials about the streetlights to see how to get them all back on.

Holm spent thousands of dollars installing a security system after the men were hit, which followed a rash of crime in the area that included a broken window, slashed tires and stolen catalytic converters.

"I probably wouldn't be getting a camera installed if it wasn't for what happened with those two guys," he said. "It seems like a pretty big injustice that that could take place right on my block."

'Public safety issue'

The streetlights in the area were installed in 2005, and while many of them worked, several near the corner of Gratiot and Russell did not, witnesses recalled.

Dark neighborhoods in the city are a "huge public safety issue," and a plan for fixing the streetlights is expected within the next few weeks, said Bill Nowling, spokesman for emergency manager Kevyn Orr.

Nowling estimated about 38,000 to 40,000 of the city's 88,000 streetlights aren't working. He said the first priority when the lights go on will be safe routes to schools.

"Ideally we'd like to be hanging lights and repairing what needs to be repaired starting in September," Nowling said.

Eastern Market officials aren't in the streetlight maintenance business yet, but plan to meet with a contractor today and will find out how much it will cost to get lights up and running in that area on Gratiot, said Dan Carmody, president of the organization.

"We want to get the problem solved," he said. "We're no different than the rest of the city. The street lighting doesn't work as it's supposed to."

Support for families

The deaths of Van Horn and Alston have led to an outpouring of support.

Brian Glass, a Detroit graffiti artist known as SinTex, started painting a piece honoring Alston on a building on Gratiot near St. Aubin. Alston used to give SinTex advice that he took to heart, like "never block your blessings" and "be thankful for what you have in life."

"I felt I needed to do a commemorative mural for him in that particular area because I would always see him in that area," he said. "When he passed, I was devastated that something like that would happen."

Mike Russell, a major league scout for the Tigers, quietly donated money to pay for Van Horn's funeral.

For Russell, it was a was a chance to pay forward a good deed by Tigers owner Mike Ilitch and his family, who years ago helped Russell when his Florida home was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan. Russell received an envelope from them with a check and a note that said: "We're sorry for your loss and maybe this helps out."

Russell never forgot that gesture. He tried to repay the Ilitches, but they wouldn't take any money.

So he decided to help somebody else in need and gave to Van Horn's family.

"I told his daughter, 'I can't bring him back, but maybe this give y'all a little bit of comfort knowing that you don't have this burden,'" he said.

Paulette Van Horn-Shreve, one of Van Horn's nine children, said she didn't know how she was going to pay for her father's burial and was moved to tears to learn the entire bill had been covered.

"I was just overwhelmed," she said.

Toledo-area accountant Corey Haskins collected about about $5,100 though the YouCaring.com website, which paid for Alston's funeral and flowers for Van Horn's services, he said.

Down with Detroit co-owners Matthew Zebari and Patrick Duggan sold shirts in memory of the men and raised about $8,000. Since both of the funeral services had been paid for, they plan to make a donation to the Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Zebari said.

Unsolved mystery

Nearly a month later, the case remains unsolved.

About 19,000 people have liked a Facebook page called "Find the Hit and Run Killer of Two Detroit Icons."

Van Horn, who chanted "Eat 'em up, Tigers," outside games while wearing that Hulk hand, was often seen pushing Alston down the street in his wheelchair. Fans considered the pair part of the Tigers atmosphere.

"We're going to miss 'em," Russell said.

Police have said they're looking for a dark-colored Dodge Avenger with front-end damage that may have an out-of-state license plate. Investigators impounded a white Cadillac that may have been involved but wasn't the primary car.

Few other details have been released by the department's public information office, which declined interview requests by the Free Press to speak with investigators.

Many in the community, including the men's family members, hold out hope that it will be solved.

"I'm hoping they'll locate the people who hit my father and Mike, and justice will be served," Van Horn-Shreve said.

Anyone with information is asked to anonymously call Crime Stoppers at 800-SPEAKUP (800-773-2587). A reward of up to $2,500 is being offered in the case.

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