A Michigan State Police trooper and a motorist were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries after a drowsy teenage driver reportedly crashed into a patrol car on Interstate 75. The incident transpired near Clarkston, Oakland County, late Wednesday, officials said Thursday.
Around 6 p.m., the trooper had pulled over and arrested a driver for impaired driving on the northbound lanes near Sashabaw Road, according to ClickOnDetroit. As the two occupied the patrol car, with the suspect secured in the passenger seat, an oncoming Dodge Durango, operated by a 16-year-old boy, drifted onto the highway's shoulder, slamming into the patrol vehicle.
The Michigan State Police Metro North Post trooper and the handcuffed driver he had earlier arrested suffered facial lacerations, and the trooper may have also broken his arm, as reported by the Detroit Free Press. They were both taken to a local hospital, where the trooper remained under observation through Thursday morning.
The teenage driver, whose identity has not been released due to his age, reportedly fell asleep before the collision and was taken into custody for reckless driving. He was later released to his mother, Patch detailed. Authorities have excluded speed and impairment by substances as contributing factors in the crash.
The aftermath of the accident prompted the closure of the northbound section of I-75 at Sashabaw Road for several hours, though it has since reopened. Michigan State Police First Lt. Mike Shaw emphasized the importance of wearing seatbelts, stating, "We are very fortunate that the injuries in this crash were not more serious, or even fatal," in remarks obtained by Patch.
