Mother Walking on I-96 in Livonia Fatally Struck by Van

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (WJBK) - Family and friends are mourning the loss of a loved one. 33-year-old Amanda Steanhouse was walking on I-96 in Livonia when she was hit by a car. The driver of that vehicle stopped, called 911 and waited with the woman until help arrived. Sadly, she didn't survive, but her family has a message for that driver.

"It's hard, but we'll get there. We just have to be strong and supportive, but we'll get there. It going to take time," Steanhouse's sister said.

Amanda is gone after being hit by a car on eastbound I-96 a few minutes after midnight Sunday. She was leaving a party in Novi and last seen in a car with her boyfriend. Police say the next time she was spotted was walking on the expressway just east of Middlebelt in Livonia. Her family is still unsure as to what happened.

"We hear all kinds of stories, and only Amanda knows the real story," her sister said. "All I know is that she's not here with us and we have to move forward."

The driver who hit Steanhouse was a 51-year-old local woman behind-the-wheel of a van. She was leaving work and wasn't ticketed for any reason. Steanhouse's family wants that woman to know that their prayers and thoughts are with her, as well.

"Thank you for being there with my sister. She never left her side once she hit her, and I thank you. I want to reach out to her to let her know that I'm not angry. We forgive her, and if she [needs] to touch bases with us she can," the sister told us.

Steanhouse leaves behind several sisters, as well as four children, including seven-month-old twins.

"One day at a time, that's all that we can do. It's hard because you're dealing with a family that's close. We're close. Nothing can come between us but death," her sister explained.

Livonia Police hope to have more answers as to what happened after speaking with Steanhouse's boyfriend. In the meantime, Steanhouse's sister had a message for her -- your children are taken care of.

"We're going to be here for them 100 percent and they'll be fine. It hard for them, really more so for the oldest child, but he [knows] he has us. 100 percent we're here. We're family. We stick together," she said.

So, while Steanhouse's immediate family mourns her loss, she also leaves behind a lot of people that loved her at Bright House Networks. In fact, she was at the company's Christmas party the night of the accident.

Funeral arrangements are still pending.