Authorities are alarmed over a double-digit increase in the number of people killed in traffic crashes in Macomb County so far this year.

Traffic safety analysts attribute many of the crashes on area roads and highways are due to all-too common causes — distracted driving, speeding and impaired drivers.

In the first 10 months of 2024, fatalities in Macomb increased by 25% compared to 2023, according to preliminary statistics compiled by the Macomb County Traffic Safety Association. Forty-five motorists lost their lives through October, the association reported.

Sheriff Anthony Wickersham calls the numbers “alarming.” He says too many drivers are still using their phones to talk, watch videos — even gambling.

“People are driving more aggressively than ever and everybody is in a hurry,” he said Thursday, a day when his deputies were investigating a pair of crashes that resulted in serious injuries among those involved.

Statistics show auto accidents involving distracted drivers have increased 11% in the U.S. and 27% in Michigan over the last five years.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, distracted driving is defined as doing another activity that takes a driver’s attention away from driving. That can include using cell phones, eating, talking to other passengers, and adjusting radio or climate controls.

Nine people in the United States are killed every day in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver, the CDC says.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports 3,308 people died in distraction-affected crashes in 2022 — a 6% decrease from the year before. NHTSA officials acknowledges there could be data limitations and potential underestimation of the number of distraction-affected crashes.

Regardless, Wickersham says even one life lost in a traffic crash — for whatever reason — is one too many.

The Sheriff’s Office has a number of initiatives at play in an effort to curb the number of crashes. One is the periodic proactive enforcement focused on seatbelt use, OUILs or distracted driving. Public education and normal routine deputy patrols make up the backbone of the reduction effort, Wickersham added.

Driver’s bad habits

Despite those efforts, deputies routinely report about the glaringly obvious violations drivers on a daily basis — everything from motorists applying makeup while looking in the rearview mirror to drivers taking selfies, authorities say.

“Even though there are laws on the books banning such behavior, you can look over into the vehicle next to you on the road and see people not paying attention as they’re on the phone, they’re looking at TikTok videos or gambling or texting because they feel they have to respond right away,” Wickersham said.

“A lot of people are doing everything but paying attention to the road.”

Where the fatal crashes took place

The Fraser-based Macomb County Traffic Safety Association’s monthly reports through October show the fatalities took place in:

• Warren — 9

• Macomb County Sheriff’s Office jurisdiction — 7

• Clinton Township — 7

• Chesterfield Township — 5

• Sterling Heights — 4

• Eastpointe — 3

• Roseville — 3

• Shelby Township — 3

• Utica — 2

• Fraser — 1

• Center Line — 1

• Michigan State Police jurisdiction — 1

In a pair of cases, crashes claimed the lives of two individuals at the same time.

On June 6, Jose Medina-Hernandez, 33, was driving a box truck south on M-53 in Shelby Township when he rear ended a Buick Vera, which triggered a chain reaction involving two other vehicles. The Buick occupants, 88-year-old Nancy Richmond and her daughter, Crystal Brunn, 63, were killed in the crash.

Medina-Hernandez was later convicted of two misdemeanors. He faces up to one year in jail when he is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 30.

In Warren, an on-duty police officer, James Burke was charged with two counts of manslaughter after he allegedly caused a crash in September that killed Cedric Hayden, 34, and his close friend, DeJuan Pettis, 33, on Schoenherr Road near Toepfer Road, according to the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office.

Burke, 28, has been suspended in the case that drew a public outcry and criticism of Warren police for unnecessary dangerous driving. He is due back in court on January 9, 2025 for a probable cause conference.

Overall crashes take a dip

Oddly, the Fraser-based Traffic Safety Association’s monthly reports show overall, the crash situation may actually be improving.

As of the end of October, the overall number of crashes actually declined by 3.2% (18,561 vs. 19,175) for the same reporting period in 2023; the number of injury accidents and people injured also fell 3.4% and 2.2% respectively; and the number of property damage crashes declined 3.2%, according to the association.

But 46 people died in 46 vehicle and motorcycle crashes through the end of October, the report shows. With the recent rash of fatal crashes, the 2024 totals are certain to rise.

In 2023, there was a 2.2% increase in the number of people who were killed on area roads when 37 deaths were reported.

Traffic analysts with the county Traffic Safety Association & Alcohol Highway Safety Program of Macomb County at the time said the county has “much more work to do” in educating drivers.

“Clearly, according to the data, Michigan has a significant issue with its drivers keeping their sole attention on the driving task,” said Christopher Drummy, the program’s executive director.

A year later, Sheriff Wickersham finds himself repeating much of the same message.

“Every driver needs to the phone down, minimize your conversation while behind the wheel, even with passengers,” he said. “And stay wholly focused on your driving.”