Felony charges have been brought against a 19-year-old Dearborn man who ran a red light on Ford Road near Fordson High School the morning of Dec. 20 and critically injured a 15-year-old girl, a Fordson High School student, who was crossing the street to get to school.
DEARBORN — A felony charge has been brought against the defendant in a Dec. 20 traffic incident on Ford Road, which left a Fordson High School student in critical condition.
Mahdi Bitar, 19, of Dearborn, was arraigned today in front of 19th District Court Judge Sam Salamey on one felony count of reckless driving causing serious impairment. A bond was set for $50,000 at 10 percent. A probable cause conference has been scheduled for Jan. 22.
On the morning of Dec. 20, a 15-year-old Fordson student was attempting to legally cross Ford Road at Schaefer Road when a Jeep Grand Cherokee traveling west collided with her.
Investigators determined through camera footage that the driver of the Jeep failed to stop at the red light before colliding with the girl and that speed was a factor in the collision. Additionally, the Jeep was equipped with an illegal window tint on the front windshield which causes obscured vision.
The pedestrian remains in critical condition.
“We will continue to hold individuals accountable for reckless and dangerous driving behavior on our roads that too often puts innocent lives at risk,” Police Chief Issa Shahin. “While road safety remains our top priority, and we work through both enforcement and traffic calming measures, we continue to implore the community, especially families and family members, to have serious conversations with young drivers about safe driving habits.”