Fatal crash involving semi-truck closes I-75 at Otter Creek in Monroe County

MONROE COUNTY, Mich. (FOX 2) - A fiery, fatal crash closed both sides of I-75 in Monroe County for hours Thursday morning. 

The crash involving a semi-truck and at least two passenger vehicles happened just before the freeway crosses Otter Creek in the construction zone. The Michigan Department of Transportation first reported the crash just after 4:20 a.m. Thursday. 

The semi-driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The median — now replaced — and lanes are back open. but backups lasted hours. 

Michigan State Police said a 47-year-old Belleville man was driving a semi on the southbound side of the freeway when he lost control, hit the right concrete barrier before going across the road and crashing over the concrete median wall. The truck hit three vehicles. 

"We don’t know why that truck driver lost control of his vehicle, but once he strikes that concrete barrier, you have nothing else you can do," said Lt. Rene Gonzalez, Michigan State Police. "People driving northbound it’s just terrible for them because that vehicle ends up coming over and running into them. There’s not a whole lot they can do in there."

Two people who were in one of the vehicles were able to transport themselves to a hospital. The drivers of the other two vehicles suffered minor injuries as well and refused hospital treatment.

The cause of the crash is under investigation by state police.

"We don’t know why that truck driver lost control of his vehicle, but once he strikes that concrete barrier, you have nothing else you can do," said Lt. Rene Gonzalez, Michigan State Police. "People driving northbound it’s just terrible for them because that vehicle ends up coming over and running into them. There’s not a whole lot they can do in there."