State police: 87-year-old driver at fault for fiery I-94 tanker crash in Dearborn

Police say 87-year-old driver's car first struck tanker truck on eastbound I-94

DEARBORN, Mich. – Michigan State Police say an 87-year-old Plymouth man is at fault for the March 7 crash on eastbound Interstate 94 involving a tanker truck which exploded into flames near the Wyoming Avenue exit in Dearborn.

The fire burned for nearly two hours, sending flames and thick black smoke billowing into the air. The stretch of interstate was closed for days while the Michigan Department of Transportation repaired the pavement.

State police say three vehicles were involved in the initial collision. The 87-year-old man was driving his car in the right lane of eastbound I-94 near Michigan Avenue when he attempted to change lanes and struck the right front end of the tanker truck, which was operated by a 55-year-old Redford Township man. The man's car spun in front of the truck, causing the truck to travel into the left lane and strike a third vehicle, which was being driven by a 23-year-old Woodhaven woman.

The woman's vehicle was forced over the median wall and into the westbound lanes of I-94. The ensuing explosion and fire destroyed the truck and two cars. State police say all three vehicles sustained totaling damages.

Miraculously, no one suffered life-threatening injuries.

The 87-year-old man did have a valid driver's license and was issued a ticket for improper lane usage, said Lt. Michael Shaw.

"We didn't have the plate from the accident that day because everything was tossed around and burned," said Shaw.

Shaw said the next steps are to assign his case to the Secretary of State's office to have his license reevaluated to make sure he should still be driving.