DETROIT — A Michigan State Police trooper was injured early Sunday morning after a suspected impaired driver crashed into his patrol vehicle while he was investigating a fatal crash along I-96.
RELATED: 23-Year-Old Driver Killed After Sedan Crashes Into Tow Truck on I-96 in Detroit
The incident happened around 4:15 a.m. on March 8 on the eastbound I-96 service drive near Dolphin Street, where troopers were already on scene investigating a deadly crash that occurred earlier along the freeway.
According to Michigan State Police Second District, troopers had closed portions of eastbound I-96 near Outer Drive following a fatal collision in which a 23-year-old man was killed after his sedan crashed into the rear of a tow truck around 3:05 a.m. The tow truck driver was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
While troopers were working that scene, a separate crash involving an unrelated semi-truck and an SUV occurred on the exit ramp to Outer Drive. The vehicles were moved to the surface streets, where a trooper began investigating the secondary crash.
During that investigation, the trooper was sitting inside his patrol vehicle with emergency lights activated when a passenger car struck the patrol vehicle on the passenger side, authorities said.
The trooper suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a hospital by Detroit EMS.
Police said the female driver of the passenger vehicle refused medical treatment at the scene. During the investigation, troopers determined she was impaired by both alcohol and narcotics.
She was arrested and taken to a hospital for a blood draw before being lodged, pending further investigation and review by prosecutors.
Michigan State Police First Lieutenant Mike Shaw said the series of crashes highlights dangerous driving behaviors that continue to put motorists and first responders at risk.
“These crashes along I-96 highlighted just some of the risky driving behaviors we are seeing on our roadways,” Shaw said. “In these crashes we saw drivers losing control, being distracted and finally driving under the influence. These crashes led to property damage, road closures, a trooper being hurt, and ultimately someone losing their life.”
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