By Jennie Miller
C & G Staff Writer

SOUTHFIELD — A 16-year-old Farmington Hills girl taking part in a highway beautification project died June 27 after being struck by a vehicle on I-696.

Michigan State Police reported that the 60-year-old driver of a Ford Excursion fell asleep at the wheel before driving off the roadway and striking a Michigan Department of Transportation van parked on the shoulder.

Initial reports show that the teenager, Elisa L. Skinner-Bell, was exiting the passenger side when the van was struck. She died as a result of her injuries. A 19-year-old individual also sustained injuries and was taken to Royal Oak’s William Beaumont Hospital, where he remains in stable but serious condition. Other teenagers nearby were unharmed.

The group of pedestrians was part of MDOT’s Youth Mentoring Program.

“Each year we hire roughly 100 students from Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and St. Clair counties,” explained Rob Morosi, MDOT spokesman. “These students, to even be considered for employment, have to maintain above a 3.25 grade point average and have excellent attendance records. Then we hire the students, and they do a variety of tests such as helping pick up litter on MDOT roadways, painting over graffiti, working with community cleanup groups, and a variety of ways of helping give back to the community.”

Skinner-Bell was hired in early June, Morosi said.

“It is a tragedy,” Morosi said. “This is a very, very sad time here. We are mourning the loss of a promising young life. It has affected everyone that works within this department and in this region. These kids do phenomenal work for us, they really do.”

Morosi added that participants of the youth mentoring program receive extensive safety training before going out in the field.

The vehicle they were standing beside had its amber overhead beacon activated.

“We are conducting an internal review because we feel that it is the responsible thing to do at this time,” Morosi said. “We are confident that every safety precaution was followed, and it was just such an unfortunate incident.”

State Police detectives have ruled out alcohol and drugs as factors in the crash. The investigation is nearly complete, according to officers. Whether or not charges will be levied against the driver is pending review by the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office.

The crash occurred between Lahser and the Harvard overpass.

You can reach Staff Writer Jennie Miller at jmiller@candgnews.com or at (586) 279-1108.