Pregnant Woman, Unborn Baby​ Killed In MI Crash: Sheriff

WHITEFORD TOWNSHIP, MI — An Ohio man has been arrested in connection with a Saturday crash that left a pregnant woman and her unborn baby dead in southeastern Michigan, according to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.

The crash happened at 10 p.m. Saturday on northbound US-23 north of Consear Road in Whiteford Township, officials said.

Investigators determined 32-year-old Kaitlyn A. Ellison, of Petersburg, was driving a red Ford Escape in the right lane on US-23 when she was sideswiped by a white Chrysler 300.

Witnesses told officials the driver of the Chrysler, a 24-year-old Oregon, Ohio man, was speeding on the right shoulder before he merged into the right lane and tried passing the Ford on the left, officials said.

The Chrysler struck the Escape, causing it to run off the roadway, officials said.

The Escape rolled several times over an embankment before coming to a stop on its right side, sheriff's officials said.

Ellison was trapped inside the Escape and had to be extricated by police, officials said.

Officials said Ellison was taken to Toledo Hospital where she died. She was seven months pregnant, and the unborn child died as well, officials said.

Investigators believe speed and alcohol played a role in the crash.

Police found the Ohio man, who sped away from the crash, shortly later at a Pilot gas station on Us-223, officials said.

He was arrested in connection with the crash and was placed in the Monroe County Jail, officials said.

He is expected to be charged with two counts of second-degree homicide and two counts of OWI causing death. Officials did not immediately release his name.

Police were still investigating the crash and asked anyone with information to call the sheriff's office at 734-240-754.