A tragedy unfolded on I-75 in Detroit early Monday as a 30-year-old woman was left fighting for her life after being struck by a vehicle. Involved in an earlier crash, the woman, reported to have exited her car on the busy interstate, was hit in a secondary accident, according to The Detroit News.
Striking her around 12:50 a.m. near 7 Mile, the Detroit Regional Communication Center was alerted to a woman lying in the road following a vehicle crash on the right shoulder. In an effort to warn others, Michigan State Police F/Lt. Mike Shaw stated in a release, "We continue to remind drivers to not get out of their cars after a crash," urging drivers to instead stay belted in their cars and call for help, as reported by FOX 2 Detroit.
The victim was immediately taken to a hospital where she remains in critical condition. The other driver, who was involved in the incident after the initial crash, stayed at the scene and sustained minor injuries.
The incident caused a temporary shutdown of the section of I-75 where, according to a Tweet from the Michigan State Police Second District, the woman after leaving her vehicle walked onto the freeway and was struck prompting the closure, as detailed by WWJ Newsroom. The driver who hit the woman was treated for minor injuries, and the same law enforcement officials continue to highlight the dangers of exiting one's vehicle on busy roadways after an accident.
This incident serves as a stark and painful reminder of the risks associated with vehicle crashes and the unpredictability of traffic incidents, especially on highways like I-75. Authorities, including F/Lt. Mike Shaw, advocate for remaining in the vehicle post-collision and seeking help from professionals, a safety protocol they often repeat in the hopes of preventing such devastating outcomes. They advise calling 911 and waiting for assistance to arrive while secured by a seatbelt inside the car, which is deemed the safest course of action after a crash.
