Best friends killed in Warren PD crash, officers still critical

WARREN, Mich. (FOX 2) – There was a horrific accident in Warren on Monday involving a police vehicle and an SUV – Both were crushed by the sudden impact of the impact.

Around 5 a.m. Monday, a Warren police SUV crashed into a white Dodge Durango on Schoenherr Road. The front of the Warren Police SUV was badly crumpled, while the T-shaped Durango was on its side with the passenger side completely smashed.

Teresa Ford identified one of the victims as her son, Cedric Hayden.

“Great person. He laughed. He loved fun. He loved to have fun. He is a family man. He has two daughters,” Ford said.

According to Ford, her 34-year-old son and his friend Dujuan Pettis were struck by officers as Hayden turned onto his own street.

“My son was on his way home. As he turned onto the street he was run over,” Ford said.

Bystanders said when the SUVs collided they heard a loud “bang.”

Warren Police Lt. John Gajewski said the two officers in the police SUV were hospitalized with serious injuries.

“At approximately 5 o'clock this morning, two Warren officers in a fully marked patrol car that you see south of us were involved in a traffic collision with two occupants of a white Dodge Durango,” Gajewski said. “The officers, one of the officers was critically injured. He had to be extricated from the vehicle by the Warren Fire Department. He is currently undergoing surgery at a local hospital.

The other officer received a medical evaluation and is expected to be OK.

Gajewski said it was not a burglary at a nearby gas station.

“I can tell you that there is information about a break-in or a stolen vehicle and I want to make it very, very clear. There was a pursuit related to a burglary that occurred two hours after this unfortunate accident. We know them.” “The suspects in the burglary have no connection to the accident,” said Gajewski.

The family waited hours for Hayden's body to be examined and removed from the scene. They said they would hold on to each other to get through this difficult time.

Police are still investigating and the Macomb County Sheriff will be leading the case.