HARTLAND TOWNSHIP (WWJ) - One man is dead after troopers say a driver under the influence barreled into a disabled vehicle along US-23 before being struck by a third vehicle, early Wednesday morning in Livingston County.
Michigan State Police said troopers from the Brighton Post responded to reports of a three-vehicle crash on northbound US-23 near Clyde Road, just north of Brighton in Hartland Township, around 1:25 a.m.
When troopers arrived, they located a 60-year-old male from Howell who was pronounced dead at the scene while four other people were rushed to the hospital.
Based on their preliminary investigation, troopers discovered the scene involved two separate crashes.
The incident began when a 33-year-old female from Grand Blanc pulled her vehicle over to the shoulder on northbound US-23 after it began experiencing issues.
A second vehicle, driven by the Howell man and carrying two other passengers, was also traveling along the same stretch of road when it left the roadway and slammed into the disabled vehicle from behind.
The force of the crash caused the first vehicle to go into a ditch and rollover while the second vehicle, driven by the Howell man, broke down in the right lane.
It was then struck by a third vehicle driven by a 57-year-old woman from Fenton.
Police clarified a 58-year-old passenger in the second vehicle was transported to Ascension Genesis Hospital in Grand Blanc with critical injuries.
The third person in the same vehicle, along with the drivers of the other involved vehicles were all taken to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
"Alcohol and drugs appear to be a factor in the original crash," troopers said. "The investigation into the crash is ongoing."
Troopers were assisted by the Livingston County EMS and the Hartland Township Fire Department. No other details were released.