Woman's Fatality in Birmingham a Freakish Incident, Police Say

The investigation into the crash that killed a Roseville woman in a downtown Birmingham parking lot last week technically remains open, but police said they believe they have a good understanding of what happened. 

Michaele  into a spot in the surface lot at 333 S. Old Woodward Avenue after it stalled out near the entrance the afternoon on May 13, police reports said. The vehicle started to roll on an incline and sideswiped another vehicle, pinning Love — who was outside the vehicle — between them. 

Love was unresponsive when firefighters arrived and was pronounced dead on arrival at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. Crash investigators with the Oakland County Sheriff's Department assisted at the scene. 

The Oakland County Medical Examiner's Office conducted an autopsy Tuesday, which did not reveal any new substantial information. Birmingham Police Chief Studt said there were no developments in the investigation and that their role is likely finished, barring anything shown in toxicology reports still pending as part of the autopsy.

Reports said said it appeared the van, which belongs to the family Love babysat for, ran out of gas in the parking lot near where she was expected to pick up children. The tragic series of events that happened next were unpredictable and unusual, according to investigators.

"It appears the van out of gas, and frankly this turned into an unfortunate, and freakish situation," Studt said. 

He added that the incident appears isolated, and that there are no plans to have city officials review or examine the parking lot for indications a public threat. 

Love's family and friends honored her at a service Saturday in Grosse Pointe Park, according to her obituary. She is survived by a husband, Jack, and two children.