MARSHALL, MI — Eastbound Interstate 94 in Calhoun County stayed closed for more than 12 hours Tuesday after a semi-truck crash near Marengo Township left two motorists dead. Michigan State Police said the collision happened around 9 a.m. near 22 ½ Mile Road.
Investigators said the two men had pulled their truck onto the shoulder to check a flat tire when an eastbound semi tractor-trailer hit them. Both were pronounced dead at the scene, and the semi rolled over in the impact.
Police say two men were checking a flat tire on the shoulder
Michigan State Police Marshall Post said the victims had already stopped their truck on the shoulder before getting out to inspect the tire. The crash unfolded as traffic moved eastbound along the interstate.
The men were identified as a 51-year-old from Grabill, Indiana, and a 40-year-old from Aurora, Illinois. Their names were not released in the information provided by state police.
The fatal collision happened in the stretch of I-94 near 22 ½ Mile Road, a rural corridor where the freeway runs through western Calhoun County. Police have not said whether any other vehicles were involved.
Semi overturns after impact but driver suffers only minor injuries
State police said the eastbound commercial tractor-trailer that struck the men rolled over after the collision. The driver of that truck was taken from the wreck with only minor injuries.
The force of the crash left debris across the roadway and made the scene difficult to clear quickly. Crews had to reconstruct what happened before traffic could move again.
No additional injuries were reported. Police did not say how long emergency responders remained on scene, but the interstate closure stretched into the afternoon and evening before reopening.
Interstate 94 shut down at Exit 115 as traffic moved to local roads
Michigan State Police closed eastbound I-94 at Exit 115 while investigators and cleanup crews worked the scene. Drivers were sent onto local roads, creating long delays in the area.
The shutdown lasted for more than 12 hours, according to the closure tied to the crash response. That kind of lane and ramp disruption can ripple well beyond the immediate crash site, especially on a major interstate route.
Wreckage removal and scene reconstruction were part of the work needed before the highway could safely reopen. Police did not announce any long-term detours after the roadway was cleared.
State police say drugs and alcohol do not appear to be factors
Michigan State Police said neither drugs nor alcohol appeared to be involved in the crash. That preliminary finding leaves the investigation focused on the sequence of events along the shoulder and travel lane.
Police have not said whether speed, visibility, or other roadway conditions played a role. They also did not release additional details about the semi driver or the vehicle stopped on the shoulder.
For now, investigators have only confirmed that a stopped truck, a passing eastbound semi, and a rollover collision combined to turn a tire check into a deadly scene on I-94.
A deadly reminder of how quickly roadside checks can turn dangerous
The crash underscores the risk drivers face when they leave a vehicle on the side of a busy freeway. Even a brief stop for a flat tire can place people close to fast-moving traffic, especially on an interstate with heavy commercial trucking.
Tuesday’s wreck also showed how a single impact can trigger a chain reaction. One collision led to a rollover, a prolonged closure, and a major cleanup effort that tied up eastbound traffic for hours.
Michigan State Police continue to handle the case through the Marshall Post. The victims were from Indiana and Illinois, showing that the impact of the crash reached beyond Calhoun County.
Local news that matters, from Dulaney Griffin.
