DETROIT (WXYZ) — Detroit Police Department Chief James Craig announced Monday there will be an internal investigation into why it took so long for emergency response to arrive following a fatal motorcycle crash involving a 22-year-old man.
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Craig said the department is trying to find out why a supervisor did not stop at the fatal crash scene on Saturday just before 11:30 p.m. in the area of South Fort, near Schaefer.
A preliminary police investigation stated that a group of three men had stolen the crashed motorcycle from the scene following the crash. Friends and family of the victim said those were friends of 22-year-old Michael Blackwell, and that they only took the motorcycle with them after calls to 911 went unanswered and they waved down an ambulance in the area.
They added that they took Blackwell's motorcycle to his home.
In a Monday press conference, Craig disputed the delayed response time, saying that the first initial call to 911 was answered. He said that fire and EMS wre dispatched but admits at least three calls to 911 after that initial call were placed on hold.
Craig added that EMS and fire arrived on the crash scene within five minutes of the first call.
However, there is a internal investigation into why an officer drove by the scene after EMS arrived. The investigation is looking into why the officer did not stop or if he knew to stop.
