WARREN (WWJ) – Police believe speed played a role in a fiery early morning crash along I-696 in Warren that left an SUV cut in half and three people hospitalized.
Michigan State Police were on their way to reports of a two-car crash on eastbound I-696 near Groesbeck around 1:50 a.m. when they got reports of a driver slamming into the original crash.
Initially, a Chevy Equinox crashed into a Dodge Caliber, causing the Caliber to roll, according to preliminary investigations. The Chevy SUV came to a rest in the middle of the freeway and the driver got out to check on the other driver. It was not immediately clear what caused the original crash.
Witnesses told troopers the driver of a Dodge Challenger was “traveling over 100 mph” and crashed into the Equinox, which was cut in half.
The Challenger and part of the Equinox both caught fire, according to MSP, who shared photos of the crash on social media.
The 19-year-old driver of the Challenger sustained a head injury and was hospitalized in serious condition as of Sunday morning, according to MSP.
A front-seat passenger in the Challenger was listed in critical condition with chest injuries, while a passenger in the back seat sustained rib injuries and was in serious condition.
A passenger in the Caliber sustained a minor chin injury, while no one else involved was injured.
The fiery crash left the freeway closed for several hours.
“There is no reason to drive faster than the posted speed limit,” MSP First Lt. Mike Shaw said on social media. “We continue to see more drivers hurt or killed due to risky driving behaviors, especially excessive speed. Hopefully these two crashes won’t result in another preventable death.”