Man flees police, hits vehicles while trying to pass crash on Southfield Fwy; troopers find gun after pursuit

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DETROIT (FOX 2) - A man following a tow truck on the shoulder of the Southfield Freeway to pass a crash on Monday hit several vehicles and fled police.

Police were called about a five-vehicle crash on the northbound side of the freeway near Schoolcraft Road at 12:10 p.m. Troopers arrived and determined there were two crashes.

While investigating, a black SUV was reported to be following a tow truck on the shoulder Troopers at the crash scene saw the SUV driving recklessly, so they tried to speak to the driver.

Police said the 39-year-old driver from Detroit sped up and swerved around the tow truck and a Michigan State Police trooper. He sideswiped and rear-ended a courtesy patrol van that was blocking the left lane just before 12:45 p.m. Police said he almost hit the courtesy patrol worker who was standing at the back of the van.

Driver hits courtesy patrol van on Southfield Freeway

A man trying to get past a crash on the Southfield Freeway hit a courtesy patrol vehicle and just missed hitting the driver who was outside of the van.

The SUV kept driving and sideswiped another vehicle before crashing into a fence near Kendall Street.

Police said the driver fled east on Kendall on foot but was eventually stopped by troopers and arrested without incident.

The man, who is a felon, had a loaded magazine on him. Police said a K-9 found a handgun on the path where the man was running. Police also discovered that the man had body armor.