A freak accident on Interstate 94 in Washtenaw County claimed the life of a Dearborn Heights man yesterday when a tire from another vehicle became detached and struck his car. The incident occurred near State Street in Ann Arbor Township, as reported by FOX 2 Detroit. Police said that a 38-year-old Jackson man was driving a Dodge Journey on the westbound side when his tire came off, crossed the median, and made contact with the Chevrolet Malibu on the eastbound side.
The tragic outcome unfolded around 4 p.m., when the errant tire collided with the Malibu's windshield and roof, leading tragically to cave in and fatally strike the 49-year-old driver in the head. The Michigan State Police troopers with the Brighton Post were rapidly on the scene, only to find the man deceased in the wreckage, as detailed in a statement obtained by The Detroit News. Investigations are ongoing, but early indications suggest that neither alcohol nor drugs were factors in this tragic chain of events.
In their ongoing inquiry, police are working to determine how the tire came loose and turned into a lethal projectile. So far, the 38-year-old driver of the Dodge Journey has not been reported to have sustained any injuries. A release from Michigan State Police provided insight into the accident but left unanswered questions about the tire's detachment, as confirmed by mlive.
As the community grapples with the sudden violence of such an accident, the identity of the victim, a 49-year-old man, has been released to the public as authorities continue to investigate.
