Pedestrian eluding Detroit police killed in crash on Southfield freeway at Joy Road

Large police response at crash investigation on Southfield freeway

The Southfield freeway was closed on the southbound side at Joy Road Tuesday due to a crash.

FOX 2 - A fatal pedestrian crash closed the Southfield freeway's southbound side after a suspect trying to avoid police was struck by two vehicles Tuesday afternoon.

The 44-year-old Detroit man was hit by a semi truck in the center lane, then struck again by a Ford Edge. He was transported to a local hospital where he died from his injuries.

Investigators say that Detroit police were investigating a report of a suspicious man in the area. A DPD patrol unit arrived and tried to make contact with the man who then jumped over the freeway fence.

The freeway in that direction is closed, according to MDOT, forcing the traffic flow to the service drive. By Tuesday evening the freeway had reopened.

"As the patrol unit turned around to make contact with the male, he jumped over the M-39 freeway fence on to the west side of the freeway southbound," state police posted on X. "He was then struck by a semi in the center lane near Joy Rd. He was also struck by the driver of a Ford Edge."