I-94 reopens after fiery semi accident closes the freeway for most of the day

VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP, Mich., (WXYZ) - Westbound I-94 has reopened after being closed between I-275 and Belleville road for most of the day.

The Van Buren Township Fire Chief told Action News a semi was parked on the shoulder of westbound I-94 near Haggerty Rd. when a second semi veered off the expressway and crashed into it.

According to Michigan State Police, the driver of the semi that crashed into the parked semi, has been identified as 27-year-old Mark Thibert from Windsor, Ontario.

He is in critical condition at this time with second and third degree burns over 80% of his body. His family is with him at the University of Michigan Hospital. Thibert drives for Wolverine Freight out of Windsor, Ontario.

No one was in the abandoned semi that was parked on the side of the road.

Just moments after the crash, a brave hero stopped to help Thibert. The good samaritan has been identified as 39-year-old Michael Widmark from Munith, Michigan.

The crash happened approximately 100 yards in front of him. Widmark saw the driver get out of his truck and could see he was engulfed in flames.

Widmark stopped his car, grabbed a t-shirts from his car, shoved the driver off the road and began rolling the driver in the grass to put out the fire.

He stayed with the driver until EMS arrived.

Thibert's truck was hauling Crown Royal Whiskey.

It is not known what caused the driver to crash into the parked semi.

Van Buren Township Fire Department and Michigan State Police remain on the scene.