Second Fatal Hit-and-Run on South Westnedge in Three Months

A 32-year-old man died early Wednesday morning after being struck by a vehicle in a hit-and-run crash on South Westnedge Avenue in Kalamazoo. The driver never stopped at the scene.

Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety (KDPS) officers responded to calls around 2:56 a.m. on June 24 near the intersection of South Westnedge Avenue and West Cedar Street. When they arrived, they found a man lying in the roadway with severe injuries. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

"KDPS detectives and crime scene personnel remained on scene throughout the morning processing evidence and conducting follow-up investigative efforts."

According to the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, investigators are actively pursuing multiple leads. Detectives spent hours at the scene collecting evidence and canvassing the area for surveillance footage and potential witnesses. South Westnedge Avenue was shut down for approximately four hours during the investigation.

Neighbors Say This Stretch of Road Has Been Dangerous for Years

Residents living near the crash site described a pattern of danger along this corridor. Tom Wendt, who lives in the Vine Neighborhood, said he heard police doors opening and saw about 20 police cars on the scene.

"I heard the door open and there were 20 police cars out here," Wendt said.

Wendt said he did not see the crash itself. He learned about it when a friend texted him a photo of a body bag in the road.

"Didn't know anything about it until this morning," Wendt said. "A friend texted me a picture of the blue body bag in the road."

Wendt pointed to a condemned house on the corner near Lovell Street as a recurring problem. He said the building caught fire three years ago and has since seen repeated police responses for teenagers running through the home. He also said unhoused people frequently gather at the property in the early morning hours.

"People going across aren't seen by cars," Wendt said.

He urged local officials to tear down the condemned property as soon as possible to improve safety for pedestrians and drivers alike.

A Pattern of Deadly Crashes on South Westnedge

This crash marks the second fatal hit-and-run on South Westnedge Avenue in just three months. On March 25, 51-year-old Mark Allen McBride was hit by a car and killed at the intersection of South Westnedge Street and Axtell Street, located roughly half a mile from the site of Wednesday's crash.

KDPS did not release the identity of Wednesday's victim. The department has not identified a suspect or a suspect vehicle.

How to Help the Investigation

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact the KDPS Criminal Investigations Division at (269) 337-8139. Anonymous tips can be submitted through:

  • Kalamazoo Silent Observer: (269) 343-2100
  • P3Tips app
  • KalamazooSilentObserver.com