Brewer's driver Patrick Birmingham navigates a tight squeeze as he tows an SUV through an opening next to Penske Truck Rental on Plymouth Road Thursday.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
Previous article: City workers find body outside mangled car while searching for missing fire hydrant
Ann Arbor police have identified a 29-year-old Ann Arbor man who was found dead outside of a car Thursday morning. Police said he appeared to be the victim of the crash.
Sgt. Matt Lige said the man had been identified, but police are not releasing his name until his family has been notified. It’s still unknown how long the man had been dead before city workers discovered him Thursday morning.
The man appeared to be the only occupant of a Hyundai Santa Fe discovered on its side in a ditch near the Penske Truck Rental on Plymouth Road near the Parc Pointe Apartments Thursday. Ann Arbor city workers had gone to the area to replace a fire hydrant and came across the vehicle in the ditch when they were looking for the missing fire hydrant.
“We just believe this is a fatal car crash,” Lige said. “The circumstances are bizarre, but there is nothing suspicious at this point other than a car crash.”
The Santa Fe was found between 50 and 75 feet away from Plymouth Road in a ditch, located about 25 feet away from the Penske building. The heavily wooded area is covered by large reeds and trees that made it nearly impossible to see the vehicle. The Ann Arbor Forestry Department had to come out to the site and help clear away some of the plants to allow police to investigate.
Police said initial investigation showed the vehicle was traveling east on Plymouth Road and left the roadway on the north side. Ann Arbor police Sgt. Bill Clock is leading the investigation into the incident.
The car was heavily damaged by the time it was removed from the ditch — the front end was smashed beyond repair and windows were broken out. Both the passenger and driver’s sides suffered heavy damage and the driver’s side doors would not open when they were pulled by officers on scene.
Police were sent to the scene at 9:50 a.m. Thursday. The incident remains under investigation.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.