Teen dragged from speeding car and hospitalized in fight over vape pen, Michigan cops say

A teenager is in critical condition after an altercation over a vape pen escalated, Michigan police said.

Two groups of teenagers came together near a rural intersection in Tyrone Township on June 15, according to a news release from the Kent County Sheriff’s Office.

While some of them were standing near a vehicle, an argument ensued over the purchase of a vape pen, police said.

A 17-year-old boy was then dragged by the vehicle while it sped away from the area, the police said.

First responders found the boy seriously injured in the roadway.

The boy, a resident of Kent City, was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition, according to the release.

“The vehicle fled the scene, but was later located by investigators,” police said. “All involved are teens aged 15 to 17-years-old and are known to each other.”

The injured teen, identified as Colin Rogers, was trying to stand up for his friends who had a vape pen stolen from them when the incident occurred, his father, Clay Rogers, told McClatchy News in a phone interview.

“He reached in the car to grab it, and they pushed on the gas and took off,” Rogers said, citing detectives. “His arm was stuck in the door, and when they turned the corner, he flew out and we presume he hit his head on a rock.”

Colin is currently on life support following multiple surgeries, Rogers said.

“Colin is a great kid and never has been a troublemaker,” a family member wrote on a GoFundMe page. “We would have never thought this would happen to us.”

The incident remains under investigation, and a finalized report will be sent to the county prosecutor’s office.

Tyrone Township is located about 60 miles northwest of Detroit.

This story was originally published June 16, 2023 at 11:34 AM with the headline "Teen dragged from speeding car and hospitalized in fight over vape pen, Michigan cops say."