Police say that a woman falsely claimed that her friend was killed when their vehicle was hit by a semi truck when in reality a drunken fight between two women in the car was to blame for the deadly crash.
The incident took place early Thursday morning in Macomb County, Michigan. Police received a 911 call from a pickup truck that had been traveling west on I-94 near Shook Road. A woman yelled “We got hit” before the call was disconnected.
Police say that a woman from the pickup called back and said, “We got hit by a semi trying to pass lanes. And then, um, my friend flew out the f—— window, dude! My friend, I carried her to the back f—— seat. And she’s not responsive! Her leg is broke!”
When police arrived on scene, they determined that the pickup had hit a guardrail and one of the three female passengers, 21 year old Samantha Mary Mullin, had been ejected. Mullins was taken to the hospital, where she later died from her injuries.
Police stopped the truck that was reportedly involved in the crash near 9 Mile Road. They impounded the truck and questioned the driver, but soon determined that the semi truck had not hit the pickup. The pickup’s backseat passenger’s story also indicated that the pickup had not been hit by the truck.
Upon further investigation, police learned that the three women had been to several local bars that evening. On the way home, the front seat passenger reportedly became involved in a verbal altercation with the backseat passenger. The fight turned physical and the driver, 20 year old Ceara Amme Abbott lost control and crashed the pickup.
Abbot and the backseat passenger were not seriously hurt in the crash.
Abbott was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and causing death. She is being held on a $50,000 bond. The backseat passenger, whose identity has not been released, has not been arrested but could still face charges.
Westbound I-94 was closed until around 6:30 a.m. for investigation into the crash
If you witnessed the crash or have further information, please contact the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office at 586-307-9412.
Altercation a possible cause in fatal I-94 crash https://t.co/2VVamCWUo2 pic.twitter.com/CY5BYDepFK
— The Detroit News (@detroitnews) March 25, 2016
Sources:
Macomb Daily
Fox 2 Detroit
Detroit Free Press