KALAMAZOO TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A motorcyclist was fatally injured Tuesday in a hit-and-run incident on Gull Road near Nazareth.
At approximately 2:41 p.m., 17-year-old Azariah Smith collided with a Jeep that turned in front of him. The driver fled the scene; however, authorities later located the vehicle at her residence. No charges have been filed as of yet.
Emergency responders from the Kalamazoo Township Police Department were dispatched, and Smith received medical aid on-site before being transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Nicole Botiner, a witness at a nearby Speedway, reportedly assisted Smith until paramedics arrived. She expressed grief over the incident, stating, “Who else was going to?”
Smith leaves behind his fiancée, Samantha McCoy, and their three children. McCoy described Smith as a dedicated father and provider, expressing uncertainty about their financial future without him.
“He was a great guy… a very present father,” McCoy said. “This is the longest they've ever been away from him in their whole life.”
An investigation into the hit-and-run remains ongoing. Authorities have not released further details on the suspect or the vehicle involved.
For those wishing to assist McCoy and her children, donation information can be found online.
This report is continually updated as more details become available.