A series of crimes, including a potentially fatal altercation, rocked the sleepy community of Hancock, Michigan, earlier this week, sparking an intense manhunt. On Sunday, the violence climaxed when the driver of an ATV ran over an 80-year-old man who was attempting to put up a Trump sign in his yard.
Incident Overview
The suspect allegedly removed the Trump sign from the yard. When the older man tried to put it back, the driver ran him over with the ATV before speeding away.
The victim was swiftly transported to a nearby hospital by paramedics. As of Tuesday afternoon, he remains in critical condition.
The Impact of an ATV Collision
To understand the severity of the injuries inflicted, consider that the average ATV weighs between 400 to 800 pounds. Such a significant amount of weight can cause severe trauma to the human body, including broken bones, internal injuries, and life-threatening conditions, such as:
1. Crush Injuries
- Crush Syndrome: Prolonged compression of muscle tissue can lead to crush syndrome, which causes muscle breakdown and the release of toxins into the bloodstream, potentially leading to kidney failure and systemic shock.
- Compartment Syndrome: Increased pressure within muscle compartments can cut off blood supply, leading to tissue death and requiring emergency surgery to relieve the pressure.
2. Fractures and Bone Damage
- Broken Bones: The impact can cause multiple fractures, including broken ribs, legs, arms, pelvis, and spine.
- Skull Fractures: Severe head trauma can result in skull fractures and brain injuries.
3. Internal Organ Damage
- Liver and Spleen Lacerations: These organs are highly vascular and can bleed profusely when injured.
- Kidney Damage: The kidneys can be crushed or lacerated, leading to significant internal bleeding and loss of function.
- Lung Contusions and Pneumothorax: Blunt force trauma to the chest can cause bruising of the lungs and air leakage into the chest cavity, leading to collapsed lungs (pneumothorax).
4. Hemorrhage
- Internal Bleeding: Severe trauma can cause extensive internal bleeding, which can be life-threatening if not promptly controlled.
- External Bleeding: Open fractures or deep cuts can result in significant blood loss.
5. Spinal Cord Injuries
- Paralysis: Damage to the spinal cord can result in partial or complete paralysis, depending on the level and severity of the injury.
- Nerve Damage: Trauma can lead to permanent nerve damage, affecting mobility and sensation.
6. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Concussion: A blow to the head can cause a concussion, leading to temporary or prolonged neurological deficits.
- Severe Brain Injury: More severe impacts can cause bleeding within the brain, swelling, and potentially fatal brain damage.
7. Respiratory Distress
- Asphyxiation: The weight of the object can compress the chest and abdomen, making it difficult or impossible to breathe, leading to asphyxiation.
- Diaphragm Rupture: The diaphragm can tear, leading to compromised breathing and the need for surgical repair.
8. Circulatory Compromise
- Shock: Severe trauma and blood loss can lead to shock, a life-threatening condition where the body cannot maintain adequate blood flow to vital organs.
- Cardiac Arrest: The trauma and resulting physiological stress can lead to cardiac arrest.
Additional Attacks
The driver is also suspected of being involved in two other politically-motivated attacks. Hancock Police Department Chief Tami Sleeman indicated that “the suspect appeared to target both Trump and Law Enforcement supporters.”
Investigation Progress
On Monday evening, the ATV driver was identified, though the suspect's name has not been released.
When police arrived at the suspect's home in Quincy Township, the 22-year-old was already dead.
Upper Michigan's TV6 News further reports:
In cooperation with the City of Hancock Police Department (HPD), deputies from the Houghton County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) were dispatched Monday to an address on Samson Street in Quincy Township.
According to a press release from the sheriff's office, Hancock police received a message from an individual at that address who said they wanted to confess to a crime involving an ATV driver within the last 24 hours and asked authorities to “send someone to pick me up.”
When responders arrived on the scene, they discovered the man dead, the cause of which appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Investigators say deputies obtained a search warrant for the residence and recovered several electronic devices, which will be searched by forensic specialists. The four-wheeler used during the incident, as well as the clothing the suspect had been wearing, were additionally found at the suspect's home.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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Justice served…
That should be charged as a HATE Crime…..
So glad the little puke had the good graces to top himself.
So when and IF he’s caught what will happen to him? In the state of the nation as it exists today he’ll be released immortalized with statues of him placed where statues of Teddy Roosevelt and Robert E. Lee once stood.