Ypsilanti man killed in Monday afternoon single car crash on US-23
An Ypsilanti man was killed on US-23 just north of Ann Arbor where the southbound highway splits with eastbound M-14 on Monday afternoon, according to Michigan State Police.
The Saturn Vue driven by Stanley Wayne Howell II slowly drifted off the roadway to the right shoulder and struck a cement pillar at the base of traffic sign, witnesses told police.
The car did not strike another vehicle before crashing and a lack of marks on the vehicle was consistent with those accounts.
Howell, 39, was taken to the University of Michigan Emergency Department, where he later died.
Though a toxicology report is not yet complete, police said alcohol and drugs were not believed to be involved. An autopsy revealed no medical emergency, leading police to conclude that Howell fell asleep at the wheel before the crash.
Police said Howell was traveling with the flow of traffic just before the crash.
Howell was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash and multiple airbags were deployed at impact.
Contact Pete Cunningham at petercunningham@annarbor.com or by phone at 734-623-2561. Follow him on Twiter @petcunningham.
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