Two individuals lost their lives yesterday during a tragic traffic event on M-10, also known as the Lodge Freeway when a 74-year-old man drove in the wrong direction and collided head-on with another vehicle. According to ClickOnDetroit, the incident occurred near Evergreen, with the wrong-way driver being pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.
The second victim, a 74-year-old from Dearborn, succumbed to injuries after being transported to a local hospital. As reported by CBS Detroit, there were no other cars involved in the crash. Michigan State Police have yet to determine where the driver entered the freeway in the wrong direction, and whether impairment was a factor in the crash.
According to a statement obtained by FOX 2 Detroit, a witness at the scene recounted seeing the car driving the wrong way, although it remains unclear how the vehicle entered the freeway. Additional witness Dakota Turner relayed a harrowing near-miss as the wrong-way vehicle struck the car directly ahead of hers, resulting in an immediate and violent collision.
In the aftermath, both vehicles had airbags deployed, highlighting the force of the impact. M-10 was consequently shutdown for several hours to facilitate investigation by authorities, reopening later that evening around 9:15 p.m. Metro-North troopers are currently spearheading the ongoing investigation, which will include vehicle inspections and medical examiner reports, Lt. Mike Shaw from the Michigan State Police stated.
