2 men hit, killed along 696 near Woodward after exiting vehicles for minor traffic crash

ROYAL OAK, Mich. (FOX 2) - Two men were hit and killed early Tuesday morning along I-696 in Oakland County after they got into a minor traffic crash and got out of their vehicles. 

Michigan State Police say the two men got out of their cars and that's when they were hit by oncoming traffic.  

The crash happened around 5:30 a.m. in the eastbound lanes between Woodward and Coolidge. It's believed the two men were hit to two separate cars. 

"If you're involved in a traffic crash, it's just a traffic crash. Just get off the freeway, get out of the side of the road. Don't get out of your car," MSP First Lt. Michael Shaw advises. "I don't think people really realize how fast traffic goes on the freeway until it's too late like a case like this." 

The victims have been identified as a 61-year-old from Westland and a 39-year-old from Oak Park. 

We're told one of the drivers who hit the men was taken to the hospital. The other driver was treated and released. 

I-696 at Woodward was closed for several hours for the investigation. The freeway reopened again just before 11 a.m.