Suspect charged after child severely injured in hit-and-run

TROY — A suspect has been charged in connection to the hit-and-run crash that injured a 7-year-old girl in Troy May 13.

The incident occurred at 10:51 a.m. near the intersection of Silverstone Drive and Dryden Road. Police said the child was crossing the street while riding a bicycle when she was struck by a vehicle. The girl suffered a broken femur, a broken pelvis and severe abrasions, according to police.

The suspect was identified as Raed Yousef Abdalla, a 27-year-old Troy man. Officers said they learned that Abdalla was connected to a used car dealership in Roseville and located his vehicle about 45 minutes after the incident. The Dearborn Police Department later arrested Abdalla at a family member’s house in Dearborn June 19.

Abdalla was arraigned June 20 in 52-4 District Court on one count of felony failing to stop at the scene of an accident causing serious injury. He was given a $1 million cash bond. His next scheduled court date is a probable cause conference scheduled for 9:15 a.m. June 29.

His attorney, Robert E. Berg Jr., maintains that none of the evidence presented suggests the incident was caused by Abdalla’s negligence.

“He’s charged with leaving the scene of a serious injury accident, which is a five-year maximum felony. I’ve seen no evidence it was caused by negligence, nor do the charges reflect his driving was the cause of the accident. He is alleged to have left the scene of an accident, which myself and my client both recognize is serious.”

He added that police are framing his arrest as though they had to track Abdalla down, while Berg contends that his client was cooperating with the investigation.

“At the arraignment, the police said it took two days to track him down, which is not accurate,” said Berg. “My client called me and said he was going to turn himself in. On May 13, the day of the accident, they questioned him, and he said he wanted to speak with a lawyer there. They released him that same day of his own recognizance. They did not, to my knowledge, contact me to ask that he come in before he was arrested at his father’s home on May 19. The police indicated he was ‘hiding out’ at his father’s house, but he was just at his father’s home, like millions of people were on that holiday. The bond was set at $1 million, no 10%, which I do not think is reasonable, and the judge said if he did make bond he had to stay in the state of Michigan, which I do not believe is constitutional. He is an American citizen and has no reason to flee.”

The Troy police did not elaborate on any claims that Abdalla had to be tracked down, but did make a statement via email.

“On June 14, 2023, Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office issued the warrant authorization charging Raed Abdalla with leaving the scene of an accident causing serious injury,” Sgt. Jason Clark wrote. “Troy police officers made several efforts to apprehend Abdalla on his warrant since June 15. After learning that Abdalla had family who lived in Dearborn, Troy PD contacted Dearborn Police Department and requested assistance with the apprehension. Arrest was made on June 19.”