ROCHESTER HILLS (WWJ) – A Shelby Township man has died after slamming his pickup truck into a pair of police cars, leaving two Oakland County Sheriff’s deputies injured.
It happened just before midnight Saturday night as two deputies were parked in separate cars helping block traffic as a disabled vehicle that had previously caught fire was towed away from M-59 near Rochester Road, according to the sheriff’s office.
The deputies were sitting in their marked vehicles – with emergency lights activated – blocking traffic on the shoulder and left lane of M-59. Officials say a 2004 Ford F-150 headed east on M-59 failed to move over or slow down for the police cars.
The truck rear-ended the patrol vehicle that was blocking the left lane, causing it to spin and hit the second patrol vehicle that was blocking the shoulder. The truck came to rest on the side of the road, officials.
The driver of the F-150, identified as Nicholas Leach, 29, was trapped in the vehicle, and was extricated by Rochester Hills firefighters. He was taken to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The deputy that was rear-ended suffered serious injuries and was taken to a hospital by deputies. He was listed in stable condition Sunday afternoon.
The other deputy was treated for minor injuries.
It is unknown if alcohol or drug use played a role in the crash.
“While the crash investigation is ongoing, the one thing that is clear is how dangerous it is for emergency vehicles and wreckers on the side of the road,” Sheriff Michael Bouchard said, per a press release. “It is a tragic reminder to the public to stay capable of driving, focused and move over a lane, away from any emergency vehicles on the side of the road as required by law.”
Less than 24 hours earlier, two deputies were injured in separate attacks at the Oakland County Jail, officials said on social media.
“They’re lucky to be alive as we assess all the injuries. Challenging days,” a post on the sheriff’s office X (formerly Twitter) page said.
Officials did not release any further information about the car fire, including whether the driver was still at the scene at the time of the crash.