SOUTHFIELD, MI — A man who stopped to help people after a crash on the Lodge Freeway was struck and killed over the weekend, Michigan State Police said. The deadly chain of events began after two vehicles collided on M-10, leaving one disabled vehicle blocking the two left lanes.
Police said a passing driver pulled onto the right shoulder a few minutes later, got out, and crossed the freeway to help the people involved in the first crash. While he was assisting them, another driver approached the disabled vehicle and swerved in an attempt to avoid it. Investigators said that driver instead hit the Good Samaritan, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
How the crash on M-10 unfolded before the fatal strike
Michigan State Police said the sequence started with a two-vehicle crash on M-10, the freeway known as the Lodge. One of the damaged vehicles was left disabled in traffic, creating a hazard in the two left lanes. That set the stage for a second, fatal collision only minutes later.
According to investigators, the man who later died was not part of the original wreck. He stopped after seeing the crash scene, parked on the shoulder, and walked across the freeway to help. Police have not said how many people were in the first crash or described the extent of their injuries, but they confirmed the Good Samaritan was trying to assist when he was hit.
Driver who hit the Good Samaritan stayed at the scene
State police said the driver who struck the man remained at the crash scene and cooperated with investigators. That driver tried to avoid the disabled vehicle by swerving, according to authorities, but the maneuver ended in tragedy.
The man who was helping was pronounced dead where he was struck. Police have not publicly released his name. The roadway remained the focus of the investigation as troopers worked to reconstruct how the second driver came upon the disabled car and the man assisting nearby.
Lodge Freeway drivers describe a road where speed leaves little margin for error
Drivers who regularly use the Lodge Freeway said the crash fits a pattern they believe is made more dangerous by heavy traffic and high speeds. Terrell Arnold said the flow of cars on the freeway makes roadside emergencies especially risky.
“It doesn’t surprise me because the traffic is coming on the freeway and it’s fast,” Arnold said. Another motorist, Foster Roberts, said he has seen similar situations before and described them as painful reminders of how quickly a scene can turn dangerous when drivers are not paying attention.
A fellow driver recalls a past rescue that ended in serious injury
Roberts said he has personal experience with a similar situation on the Lodge. He recalled knowing a man from school who was badly hurt after trying to help someone who had broken down on the freeway. In that case, Roberts said, speeding traffic led to a leg amputation.
His account underscored why many drivers say they worry about anyone getting out of a vehicle near the freeway lanes. Even a brief stop to help can become life-threatening when traffic is moving fast and other drivers have little room to react around a disabled car.
Michigan State Police say the investigation remains open
Michigan State Police said the investigation into the fatal crash is still ongoing. At this point, investigators have confirmed the original crash, the disabled vehicle, the Good Samaritan’s attempt to help, and the swerving maneuver that led to the fatal strike.
Authorities have not released further details about possible charges, the identity of the dead man, or whether more people were hurt in the earlier crash. For now, troopers continue to piece together the events that turned a rescue attempt on M-10 into a deadly scene.