LYON TWP. (WWJ) -- Authorities believe alcohol may have been a factor in a three-vehicle freeway crash that left one person dead and five other injured, early on New Year's Day.
According to the Oakland County Sheriff's Office, the crash happened shortly after 3 a.m. on Jan. 1, along westbound I-96, east of the South Hill Rd. overpass, in Lyon Township.
Investigators say a 57-year-old Fenton woman was in the backseat of a Ford Explorer that rear-ended a Chevy Trax, which was stopped in the middle lane of the freeway with its hazard lights on.
The Explorer ended up facing east in the westbound lane where it was hit head-on by a Jeep Compass.
First responders arrived and got everyone out of the Explorer before it caught fire, the sheriff's office said.
The Fenton woman was pronounced dead at the scene, and the three other people in the Explorer were taken to a local hospital.
Officials said the Explorer driver and his 51-year-old wife, who was in the front seat, were both listed in serious condition. The Fenton woman's 81-year-old husband, who was in the backseat, was listed in critical condition.
The drivers of the other two vehicles involved were also taken to the hospital. Officials said the Jeep driver was in critical condition, and the Trax driver — a 30-year-old Ypsilanti man — was stable.
While the investigation is ongoing, officials said they don't know why the Trax was stopped on the freeway.
The sheriff's office said in a news release Wednesday afternoon that results of a blood draw to determine if he was intoxicated are pending.
No names were released.