A police pursuit in Sterling Heights involving a 16-year-old driver resulted in a fatal collision on Saturday night, August 12.
The teenage driver’s Chevrolet Equinox SUV struck another vehicle in the Detroit suburb at approximately 9:30 pm.
The victim, a pregnant woman identified as Faith Gumma, 31, was rushed to a nearby medical facility where she was declared dead upon arrival. Her spouse, 34-year-old Norman Gumma, was listed in critical condition with severe head trauma. Their toddler, Elijah, age two, suffered broken ribs and lacerated organs but was treated and discharged.
The police initiated the chase after noticing the teen driving continuously with an active turn signal. They attempted a traffic stop suspecting he was uninsured, which is a misdemeanor in Michigan. The young driver is reported to have accelerated through a red light at more than 85 mph, subsequently colliding with the Gumma’s car.
Following the accident, the teenager, a Detroit local, was arrested and is now at the Macomb County youth home, facing numerous felony counts. The decision on whether he will be prosecuted as an adult is pending.
The Sterling Heights Police Department is continuing its probe into the accident and the events preceding it.
