(MI) Teen Roadside Mechanic Killed In Late-Night I-696 Ramp Tragedy
A 19-year-old roadside mechanic was killed last night when a car struck him as he worked on a semi-truck parked on the right shoulder of eastbound I‑696 at the Mound Road exit ramp in Macomb County. The crash happened around 10:45 p.m., and first responders pronounced him dead at the scene. The driver stayed on site while police secured the area and opened an investigation.
According to ClickOnDetroit, the driver was a 60-year-old woman who stopped and cooperated with investigators. Officers told the station that alcohol or drugs were not suspected in the crash. The victim had reportedly been working on the semi when he was hit, and investigators said the probe remains active. Roadside Risks And National Data
The Federal Highway Administration reports that hundreds of people die each year in work-zone crashes and that highway-worker fatalities have been in the low hundreds in recent years, underscoring how dangerous it is to be on foot near moving traffic. The agency also cites speeding and large trucks as frequent factors in fatal work-zone incidents, a combination that makes extra caution essential for anyone stopped on a highway shoulder. As outlined by the Federal Highway Administration, work-zone and roadside incidents remain a persistent safety concern nationwide. This Stretch Has Been Targeted For Safety Upgrades
Macomb County has invested in upgrades along Mound Road and the I‑696 interchange through the Innovate Mound project, adding pavement, signal and corridor improvements intended to reduce crashes and improve visibility. County officials say those changes are meant to make the corridor safer for motorists and roadside crews, although the busy ramps still pose hazards.
Officials have not released the victim’s identity, and police say the investigation is ongoing.
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