SOUTHFIELD — A single-vehicle crash involving a 2015 Ford Explorer occurred around 3:30 p.m. on Simmons Avenue near Berg Road in Southfield on July 12, 2026. The crash left four occupants injured, including two young children, and prompted an emergency response that involved police officers descending a treacherous ravine to reach the vehicle.

Southfield Police officers arrived at the crash site and immediately began rescue efforts, according to body camera footage that shows them extricating two children from the back seat through a car window. The officers had to navigate a steep, muddy ravine with loose, wet soil to access the vehicle, slipping and falling multiple times during their descent.

The vehicle’s occupants included a 39-year-old female driver, a 63-year-old male front-seat passenger, a 4-year-old boy, and a 2-year-old girl. The boy suffered a laceration to his forehead, while the girl sustained a fractured femur. Both children have since been cleared for hospital discharge and are awaiting coordination with family members for custody.

Firefighters used extrication tools, including the Jaws of Life, to remove the vehicle’s doors and lift the dashboard to free the two adult passengers. Both adults were packaged in Stokes baskets and carried up to the roadway by rescue personnel before being transported by ambulance. The 39-year-old driver remains hospitalized in critical condition and is unable to speak with police, while the 63-year-old passenger is in stable condition but unable to communicate with detectives due to the seriousness of his injuries.

Safety child seats were found inside the vehicle, though it is unknown whether the children were properly restrained before the crash, ejected during the collision, or removed themselves afterward. Investigators also confirmed there is no preliminary evidence to suggest that alcohol or drugs played a role in the incident. The driver does not possess a valid Michigan driver’s license, according to police records.

Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren praised the responding officers, saying, “The professionalism, courage, and teamwork, and selfless action demonstrated by these officers undoubtedly made a significant difference in the outcome of this incident.” He added, “Their willingness to place themselves in harm’s way to save the lives of others exemplified the highest standards of public service.”

Why It Matters

The crash underscores the complexities of emergency response in hazardous terrain and the importance of rapid intervention in pediatric trauma cases. With both adult occupants unable to assist investigators and the cause still under review, the incident remains an active inquiry as authorities work to reconstruct the events leading to the crash.