(no subject)
Teenager dies after taking mother's car
Web-posted Sep 24, 2005
By KORIE WILKINS
Of The Oakland Press
WEST BLOOMFIELD TWP. - Inclement weather and an inexperienced driver appear to be the reasons behind a fatal car crash in West Bloomfi eld Township.
Lt. Carl Fuhs said Christopher James Walker, 15, was behind the wheel of his mother's vehicle when he lost control, striking another vehicle about 8:45 p.m. Thursday. Christopher, of West Bloomfield Township, did not have permission to drive the car. He also did not have a driver's license, Fuhs said.
Police officers don't know where Christopher was going or why he decided to drive without a license or his mother's permission. Fuhs said he didn't know if the youth had a learner's permit.
The crash, which happened after Christopher crossed the center line, occurred when the youth was driving west on Maple Road just west of Farmington Road during a thunderstorm.
Police say Christopher's vehicle skidded into the eastbound lane, crashing into a vehicle driven by Harshinder Singh, a 47-year-old West Bloomfield man. Fuhs said Singh sustained minor injuries and later went to a local hospital for treatment.
Fuhs said after the crash, Christopher was talking to officers at the scene. They did not believe his injuries were life-threatening at that time, Fuhs said. But about 1 a.m., Christopher died at Royal Oak's William Beaumont Hospital. His exact cause of death is unknown. An autopsy was expected to be performed Friday morning by Oakland County medical examiners but results were unavailable.
West Bloomfield School District spokesman Steve Wasko said students at West Bloomfield High School - where the youth was a sophomore - are mourning his death.
Christopher was a wellliked student who loved basketball, Wasko said.
"Basketball was one of his passions," he said. "He was very loved and well-known throughout the building."
Counselors were being made available to students Friday and the school's media center was set aside as a gathering place for students and staff to talk about Christopher. Next week, students and teachers will meet to decide on an appropriate memorial for Christopher, Wasko said.
Christopher served as a student assistant to the basketball team last year and looked forward to trying out for the team in November, Wasko said.
The crash that resulted in Christopher's death remains under investigation but charges are not expected to be filed.
Fuhs said alcohol or drugs do not appear to be a factor in the crash. Both Christopher and Singh were wearing seatbelts, he said. Both were alone in their vehicles.
This pic is from Yaniques lj.... i thought it would be nice to have a pic up of him.. so you know who he was.... He is th eone on the Left. . . and his best friend on the right.
it's so sad. i didn't know him very well but he was in my spanish class and it's sad thinking that he's never going to come back again. Me and Susan cried the whole hour after finding this out.
♥ Angie