A Florida driver was killed Monday afternoon in Whiteford Township after his SUV slammed into the back of a tractor‑trailer on U.S. 23, then spun off into a ditch, authorities said.
The crash occurred around 1:19 p.m. on northbound U.S. 23, just north of U.S. 223 in Monroe County, while traffic was backed up because of a lane closure further north. Emergency crews pronounced the driver dead at the scene.
Deputies identified the victim as Paul M. DeVito, 38, of Plantation, Florida. He had been driving a white 2021 Toyota RAV4 when it struck the rear of a trailer being pulled by a white 2024 Volvo tractor. The truck driver, 43‑year‑old Herney D. Pena‑Fajardo, was not injured and was released at the scene.
According to CBS Detroit, the force of the impact sent the RAV4 spinning several times. DeVito was thrown from the vehicle, and both he and the SUV came to rest in a roadside ditch.
County crash team is leading the probe
Per the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, the Traffic Services Division, which includes a crash reconstruction team, is handling the investigation and uses specialized reconstruction equipment and software. Officials have not released additional details about what led up to the collision.
First responders and traffic impact
First responders on scene included the Summerfield Township and Whiteford Township fire departments, Monroe Community Ambulance, the Michigan State Police Motor Carrier Division, and the Monroe County Sheriff's Office Victim Services Unit and chaplain program, according to CBS Detroit.
The tractor‑trailer came to a stop in the right travel lane. Michigan Department of Transportation traffic reports showed all northbound lanes were closed for more than two hours while crews worked to clear the scene. The crash remains under investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Monroe County Traffic Services Division at 734‑240‑7560 or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers of Michigan at 1‑800‑SPEAK‑UP (1‑800‑773‑2587). Crime Stoppers of Michigan notes that tips can also be submitted online and anonymously.
