Early on Thursday morning, a tragic incident occurred on Interstate 96 in Detroit when a woman died after jumping from an overpass into oncoming traffic. WWJ Newsradio reported that at approximately 7:30 a.m., a 911 caller first alerted Michigan State Police to a pedestrian on the freeway, an alarming situation developing on the city's west side. Moments later, the situation escalated when a second caller reported that the pedestrian had been hit by a vehicle.

Michigan State Police Second District released details, as noted in their statement, confirming that the pedestrian, a 39-year-old woman from Detroit, had jumped from an overpass over the westbound lanes of the freeway, near Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Sadly, she was struck by a Ford van and pronounced dead at the scene. The van's driver has stopped and is cooperating with the investigation.

Traffic Crash Update:
08/01/2024 at 7:30 AM
Location:
W I 96 near MLK – Detroit
Synopsis:
The Detroit Regional Communication Center received a call about a pedestrian on the freeway. Troopers were sent to check on the pedestrian and while headed there another caller informed the… pic.twitter.com/DLXeuhOkwI

— MSP Second District (@mspmetrodet) August 1, 2024

The Detroit News also covered the story, highlighting eyewitness accounts that provided a clear sequence of the events that led to the woman's death. Responding troopers who were already en route following the initial call about the pedestrian was met with the immediate aftermath of the collision upon arrival.

The freeway was promptly shut down after Michigan Ave following the incident but has since been reopened to traffic, providing some relief to the congestion caused by the early morning's events. A full investigation is ongoing and officials await a report from a Medical Examiner to learn more. While this investigation continues, the identity of the deceased woman has not been released, preserving a measure of privacy in the face of public tragedy.