Michelle Stafford Reaches Out for Help After a Senseless Tragedy

Absolutely heartbroken over the tragic death of her dear friend, THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS star Michelle Stafford (Phyllis) asked her fans and followers for a personal favor. Sharing the news that her friend, Max, was killed in a hit-and-run car accident, the Y&R Daytime Emmy winner implored those who follow her on social media to assist the authorities in bringing his killer to justice.

“Can you please help me get justice for my friend, Max, and his family?” Stafford wrote on Instagram. “Max was killed Saturday night by a driver going 100 miles an hour at the intersection of Ash [Street] and Thompson [Boulevard] in the city of Ventura, CA. The driver was driving a silver sedan and fled the scene. The police have no leads.”

According to news reports, the fatal accident occurred just after midnight on Sunday morning. When police officers arrived on the scene, they found Max on his back in the street, unconscious from a head injury. When the paramedics arrived to assess the situation, they tried to revive Max — who was just 30 years old — before pronouncing him dead at the scene. Officers from the Ventura Police Department determined that Max was crossing Thompson Blvd. on foot from the north when he was struck by the oncoming car, which was traveling westbound.

Michelle Stafford Friend Max — “We are heartbroken,” Stafford tweeted of her “incredible” friend’s tragic death..Twitter

By using her reach on both Instagram and Twitter to spread awareness of the horrible accident that claimed Max’s life, Stafford is hoping that someone, somewhere, will have information to help the police find the driver responsible. “Putting the word out there will help,” she shared. “I will be going up to that area to ask around myself on Saturday if anyone here would like to join me. I will be going to body shops as well as I’m sure the driver must need to fix their car, right?”

Anyone with information regarding this collision is asked to contact Officer Chris Wilson of the Ventura Police Department at (805) 339-4366. “I plan to get justice for Max and his incredible mother, Bella,” Stafford concluded. “We are all devastated. Please, put the word out so we can find his killer. Rest in peace, Max.”