Family of Four Rescued After Simmons Avenue Crash [Southfield]

Two adults and two young children were rescued from a vehicle that crashed through a guardrail and came to rest approximately 30 feet below the roadway on Simmons Avenue near Berg Road in Southfield, Oakland County, on Sunday afternoon, July 5, 2026. The mother, who was driving, remains hospitalized in critical condition. The story was reported by ClickOnDetroit Local 4 News, which also covered a Southfield Police Department press conference held Tuesday, July 7.

According to Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren, a preliminary investigation indicates the family’s 2015 Ford Explorer crashed through a metal guardrail on Simmons Avenue near Berg Road around 3:30 p.m. before coming to rest in a ravine approximately 30 feet below the roadway near the Rouge River. Responding officers found a 4-year-old boy and 2-year-old girl unsecured in the back seat. Officers broke a window to safely remove the two children. The driver — a 39-year-old Southfield woman whom police say does not have a valid Michigan driver’s license — and her 63-year-old husband were both found unresponsive in the front seats. Both adults required extrication via the Jaws of Life. The Southfield Fire Department’s Technical Rescue Team set up a low-angle rope rescue system to haul all four occupants up the ravine to waiting ambulances. The mother remains in critical condition and had not yet been able to speak with investigators as of Tuesday. The father is listed in stable condition. Neither child’s condition was disclosed. The crash was initially reported to police by the husband’s brother, who located the crash site using a shared phone app after being contacted by the victim. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

What Those Involved May Want to Know.

When a single-vehicle crash results in critical injuries and the driver is reported to lack a valid license, several legal questions may arise that the investigation and applicable insurance policies will need to address.

Michigan’s no-fault insurance system generally provides PIP benefits for medical expenses and wage loss to injured occupants of a vehicle through the applicable no-fault policy. Whether coverage is available in this specific case depends on what policies were in force at the time of the crash. When a driver does not hold a valid license, certain no-fault coverage considerations may be affected depending on the circumstances — questions an auto accident attorney can help evaluate.

For the children and the injured father, identifying what coverage may be available for medical expenses and other losses is an important early step. Because two young children were involved, their medical needs and any potential legal claims may require separate review from the adults’ claims. An attorney can help the family understand what options may be available for each injured person once the investigation develops further.

If you or a family member were injured in a crash in Oakland County or anywhere in the Metro Detroit area, our team may be able to help. To speak with a Michigan personal injury attorney, contact us today.

Sources: ClickOnDetroit