Farmington mourns teen killed while crossing Orchard Lake Road

Grechin-Pirogov was crossing Orchard Lake Road at Shiawassee Street at about 8 p.m. on October 28 when a pickup truck struck him. He later died from his injuries, Farmington public safety officials said. He had been headed westward after starting on the eastern side of Orchard Lake Road, and police are investigating the circumstances of the collision.

His mother, Diana Pirogova, said he loved art, music, clubs, friends and, above all, his family. She described him as a bright and kind person, saying, “He is sunshine boy.” She said she learned he was critically injured when she called his phone, and that he had died by the time she reached the hospital.

North Farmington High School sophomore, Grechin-Pirogov had previously attended Forest Elementary and Warner Middle School. He also took part in Oakland Early College and the district’s Student Round Table, where Superintendent Kelly Coffin said he shared ideas with school leaders and advocated for students. Coffin said the district was grieving his death and would offer support to students and staff at the three schools.

Residents near the intersection described concerns about speeding, drivers running traffic lights and difficulty seeing pedestrians at night. One resident said she had seen several close calls in the crosswalk. Public safety officials said the intersection has had crashes and that police would continue enforcement there.

Investigators are checking whether the pedestrian signal favored him and what brought him to the crossing. Police said the pickup driver is cooperating and reported no indication that substance use contributed to the crash. Pirogova hopes her son will be remembered for who he was, rather than the way he died.