ROSEVILLE (WWJ) - A wrong-way crash caused by a suspected drunk driver on I-696 in Roseville on Friday morning has killed one person, authorities said, and forced the entire freeway to close ahead of the morning commute.
Michigan State Police said in an update to social media that 911 calls were made to the The Detroit Regional Communication Center (DRCC) starting around 3:35 a.m., reporting a driver of a red Jeep Liberty was heading eastbound in the westbound lanes of I-696 near Coolidge Hwy.
Other callers continued to flood the DRCC as the driver continued eastbound in the westbound lanes.
"Troopers were able to locate the Liberty at Dequindre Road and travelled eastbound in westbound lanes on the right shoulder attempting to alert the wrong way driver," MSP added "Moments later, the driver of the Liberty struck a Chevy SUV head-on in the left lane."
WWJ's Charlie Langton reports crash investigators were seen walking around a badly damaged red Jeep earlier while pieces of metal and other debris lay scattered on the roadway.
"This is both very scary and sad at the same time," Langton said.
MSP said the crash fatally injured a 62-year-old driver from Harper Woods who was behind the wheel of the Chevy SUV.
The driver and passenger in the Jeep only received minor injuries. MSP said troopers suspect they were both drunk at the time of the crash. A blood draw was completed on the suspect and he was given medical treatment for a broken toe.
Troopers also added that they believed that the suspect driver had a suspended license. Once the suspect is cleared from the hospital, MSP said he will be taken to jail.
The victim's family has been notified of the fatal incident, troopers added. The investigation is ongoing at this time.
As of 7:30 a.m., all west and eastbound lanes of I-696 near Gratiot have reopened after being closed for several hours. Earlier, drivers were backed up at Gratiot with a lot heavy traffic on the Service Drive of I-696, just west of Gratiot.
WWJ traffic reporter KT was on her way into the office around 3:50 a.m. when she witnessed the wrong-way driver coming right at her prior to the crash.
"I got on to I-696 westbound at Gratiot -- as soon as I got up to speed, I looked up and I saw headlights and I looked again it is headlights!" She told WWJ's Jonathan Carlson. "And then all of a sudden I saw the police come on the exit ramp right at me. [I] slowly [got] over to the right shoulder, getting out of their way and then two minutes later, I heard that the crash happened."
Authorities were on the scene for almost four hours as they gathered evidence and clean up the crash.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned to WWJ LIVE for the latest updates.