OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. (WXYZ) — The left shoulder and left lane on southbound I-275 were closed following a crash in Oakland County early Tuesday morning. The freeway has since reopened.
Michigan State Police say that around 4 a.m. Tuesday, the dispatch center received a 911 call from a driver that saw another driver driving recklessly and then crashed into a guard rail blocking the left lane at southbound I-275 north of 8 Mile.
According to MSP, it started when the driver of a Buick hit the shouder and struck a cable median barrier before stopping. Sometime after the crash, the driver exited the vehicle.
MSP said witness reports that the driver was ejected or changing a tire didn't match evidence at the scene.
About five minutes after the Buick crashed, a Chrysler was going south in the left lane of I-275 and didn't see the Buick in the left lane or the driver behind the vehicle.
The Chrysler then struck both the Buick and the driver, overturned and continued down the freeway on its roof.
The driver of the Buick was killed instantly and the driver of the Chrysler was transported to a hospital in stable condition. The freeway was closed for around six hours.
Police say they are investigating whether the driver was driving recklessly or was having a hard time staying awake. MSP is doing a toxicology report to see if the driver may have been intoxicated.
At this point, it is still unclear as to why the driver got out of his car. Police say the incident still remains under investigation.
