Wright Township, Mich. — A multi-vehicle crash involving a semi-truck on I-96 early Sunday morning resulted in one death and one serious injury.
According to the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office, the incident occurred at 12:15 a.m. on Sept. 27, when a semi-truck merged onto westbound I-96 from the Ironwood Drive on-ramp.
A 23-year-old man from Custer, driving an Infiniti, attempted to pass the semi-truck on the shoulder. He struck an unoccupied pickup truck before being hit by the semi, causing his vehicle to become engulfed in flames after coming to a stop in the median.
Emergency responders and bystanders extricated the driver from the burning car, and he was transported to a local hospital in serious but stable condition. The passenger, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the semi-truck was unharmed.
Westbound I-96 was closed for several hours as crews cleared the scene. The victim's identity has not been released while the sheriff's office notifies the family.
The crash is under investigation. Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office.