A Lake Orion woman has been charged with 18 felonies after police say she used her Jeep to intentionally strike multiple pedestrians in several communities across Metro Detroit.
The alleged hit-and-run crimes happened while her children were inside the vehicle, according to investigators.
Police identified the driver as 30-year-old Rachele Ricklefs.
Authorities say Ricklefs was arrested after allegedly hitting at least 10 pedestrians during a string of incidents that spanned the cities of Royal Oak, Clawson, Hazel Park, and Warren.
Summary
The chaos began in Royal Oak, where police say Ricklefs used her Jeep to strike a man riding a bicycle.
From there, she allegedly drove into Clawson and rammed into and damaged a pair of police patrol cars.
Authorities say the two children were in the Jeep during that portion of the incident.
They say Ricklef’s son was able to escape her SUV as police were trying to stop the woman.
Lt. John Gajewski of the Warren Police Department described the case as “very, very, bizarre” and stated that the incidents spanned multiple cities. “It’s a miracle we are not talking about multiple fatalities here,” he added.
The alleged violence continued into Hazel Park, where Ricklefs is accused of striking another pedestrian near 10 Mile and Dequindre roads.
Additional victims were reportedly struck in Warren, including locations near 9 Mile Road, 14 Mile Road, and Van Dyke Avenue, and in the Walmart parking lot at 12 Mile Road and Van Dyke Road.
Law enforcement is describing the incidents as a string of intentional pedestrian hit-and-runs.
Investigators say they are confident a mental health component is involved and have declined to speculate further while the probe continues.
Detectives have also notified Child Protective Services because the suspect’s six-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son were in the vehicle during the alleged attacks.
Authorities say it is fortunate that none of the victims suffered life-threatening injuries.
The investigation remains active, and police have not released additional details about the specific charges beyond the total number of felonies.
