Ann Arbor man killed in crash on US-23
A 22-year-old Ann Arbor man was killed this morning after a semi-truck crashed into his car on northbound US-23 in Ann Arbor Township, fire officials said.
About 2:45 a.m., the truck, driven by a 59-year-old Clio man, struck the side of the car, Ann Arbor Township Fire Lieutenant Marc Volger said.
The driver of the car was pronounced dead on the scene of the accident that occurred just north of the west triple-decker intersection with M-14, Volger said. Investigators have not been able to determine whether the driver was wearing a seat belt.
The driver of the truck was wearing a seat belt and was not injured, Volger said. Volger said he did not know whether road conditions were a factor in the crash.
The northbound lanes of the freeway were shut down after the crash and remained closed at 7:30 a.m.
Michigan State Police investigators could not be reached for comment this morning.
An Ann Arbor man died in a crash on northbound US-23 early this morning.
Comments
Wolf's Bane
Mon, Jan 9, 2012 : 7:43 p.m.
I believe this is the second fatality on this stretch of road in as many as 3 months. It would be interesting to get actual accident statistics for this area and to perhaps pass this on the road commission for a redesign the area roadways to avoid so many deaths? Just a thought? Does annarbor.com have any statistics?
Veracity
Sat, Dec 24, 2011 : 11:03 p.m.
Driving between mid-night and 6 am should be avoided as very few drivers are fully alert during that period of time and speed and distance are difficult to judge when it is dark.
Doug
Sat, Dec 24, 2011 : 3:33 p.m.
The design of the road merging from the left and narrowing into right hand traffic coming off a curve is the most dangerous drive I've ever encountered. It's shame this young man had to pay for this unconscionable design with his life.
jns131
Sat, Dec 24, 2011 : 3:12 p.m.
Drive safe. I am hearing there is a lot of black ice out there. Hubby is out there and told me to stay home. Good luck out there.
goblue16
Sat, Dec 24, 2011 : 1:59 p.m.
He is a fantasic young man and I have known him for several years. I am in shock and he will be missed.
Ypsi_Wings_Fan
Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 11:06 p.m.
We spend all this time and effort on a "war on drugs" here at home when the real danger is the appaling conditions of our highways, where more people die each year then from drug related murders and ODs combined. Use the one piece of influence of you have, your vote, to do something about this nonsense. Best of wishes to the family in this terrible time.
KINGofSKA
Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 9:11 p.m.
I always get a little nervous when merging on that same spot. God bless all families in this. This man will be missed by so many.
Cheryl
Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 4:05 p.m.
This is so sad. I knew the young man that was killed and he was a great person and a dear friend of my daughters. My heart breaks for his family and all who knew him. He will be missed.
Jennifer
Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 5:21 p.m.
I knew him as well and used to work with him about a year ago, he's a great person and will be missed!
Haran Rashes
Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 3:45 p.m.
As someone who drives that stretch of road daily to commute from Ann Arbor to Lansing, I can vouch for some of the safety concerns. Cars coming off of M-14 East onto US-23 North merge into US-23 from the left. With the curve of the road and the left hand merger, unfortunately this was (and will remain) a tragedy waiting to happen. Another spot that is as bad, if not worse, is the exit from US-23 North onto I-96 West. Again it merges from the left and traffic on I-96 regularly flies at about 10 MPH over the speed limit. Though I know it will be of little consolation to this young man's family, all it probably took was one or two seconds of distraction on the part of either the victim or the truck driver for this tragedy to happen. My heart goes out to the victim's family and loved ones as well as to the truck driver. No matter who was at fault, even if it was no body's fault, the truck driver may have to live with a sense of guilt for the rest of his life. Not a great way to spend a holiday season for any of them.
Ann English
Sun, Dec 25, 2011 : 12:14 a.m.
That exit from US-23 North to I-96 West is a simple left turn, but still you have to slow down to maintain control of your car on that turn.
golfer
Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 3:15 p.m.
so sad. expecially this time of the year. i for one will not dirve 194 from ann arbor to detroit at 5pm traffic. like doing indy 500.
NYHolidayTraveler
Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 3:12 p.m.
We drove by this crash last night. We were traveling from NY to visit family and arrived at the scene after the first responders got there but before they closed the road. Couldn't figure out what happened, but we didn't even see the truck--that explains a lot. I've never seen a car so completely crushed. We were pretty sure we'd read that someone died in it. Kept thinking that we were seeing something that would forever change the lives of at least two families, how they experience Christmas for the rest of their days. Sending love out to everyone affected.
smokeblwr
Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 3 p.m.
14 just west of 23 and 94 just west of 14 are REALLY dangerous. I think the merging highways might be a factor in it.
Ann English
Sun, Dec 25, 2011 : 12:43 a.m.
Are you thinking of BOTH eastbound and westbound M-14 just west of the west triple-decker? Whenever I turn south onto the shared highway between them from westbound M-14, I always signal my intentions to change lanes to the new drivers behind me, fresh off southbound US-23. Yes, traveling a stretch of freeway with traffic merging with you from the left at higher rates of speed than from regular sideroad ramps is REALLY dangerous. When they're joining you from the right and your exit is the very next one, you'd better signal your intentions .
Ann English
Sun, Dec 25, 2011 : 12:10 a.m.
On January 7, 2006, M-14 eastbound but just west of US-23 was closed to traffic by police, but they left it open beyond the Barton Drive entrance-exit, where I got on. I could drive fine northward, but once I turned east on M-14, I had to greatly reduce my speed. That was the icy morning in which Eric Namesnik and a firefighter named Amy died due to icy roads. As for I-94 just west of M-14, it's still a surprise to see people merging with us from M-14, because it looks like a third travel lane for awhile, and the Zeeb Road exit is only 3/4 of a mile beyond it, so I can see why drivers want to get into the correct lane for exiting onto Zeeb, with all the businesses and residences on it and Jackson Road that were not there in the eighties.
Tru2Blu76
Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 2:58 p.m.
Yet another seemingly inexplicable accident resulting in tragic death - on that stretch of US-23 between Ann Arbor and Brighton. I haven't commuted daily on that stretch of highway since the 1970s but even back then there were strange (and dangerous) situations popping up. (1) A herd of cattle breaking through a fence and crossing both north & south lanes. (2) A southbound car suddenly swerving out of control, then spinning across the median - coming to a stop broadside on the northbound lane on a clear, dry morning. (3) A gasoline tanker with gas sloshing from a top hatch leaving a trail miles long while the driver ignored all attempts to get his attention. Those are just the incidents I witnessed myself (and narrowly survived); there are lots of stories about such strange things which never make the news because they don't result in accidents.
jns131
Sat, Dec 24, 2011 : 3:16 p.m.
The stretch between Jackson road and Chelsea is also a dangerous one at best as well.
shutthefrtdoor
Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 3:39 p.m.
The Ann Arbor Triangle? I too have seen some bizzare traffic events there. I always contributed it to the tight merge and close quarters...not to mention drivers that just don't have a clue when they are either doing 80mph or 40mph around that corner. But...ya never know I guess...
Frankyhollywood68
Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 2:22 p.m.
so sad to have something like this happen ANY time of year...let alone the holiday season. but seriously, I've seen 'twighlight zone' type accidents on '14' it's as if that highway runs over an Indian burial ground or something?? I mean, I've really seen some crazy bad stuff on that stretch of highway.
jondhall
Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 2:03 p.m.
God Bless the young mans family.