DETROIT – A man was seriously injured on Tuesday evening after he was hit by a car while changing a flat tire on the shoulder of the Southfield Freeway in Detroit.
The man was struck at about 7:10 p.m. on Tuesday, July 29, on the northbound Southfield Freeway near Schoolcraft Road.
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When troopers arrived, they found the man lying on the ground with “apparent serious injuries.”
An investigation revealed that the man had pulled his Dodge Caliber onto the right shoulder of the freeway due to a flat tire. His wife was in the front passenger seat.
While he was trying to change the tire, a driver in a Chevrolet Impala that was heading north hit him.
Police say the man was alert and breathing, but had serious physical injuries. He was taken to the hospital for treatment.
The driver of the Impala, identified as a 52-year-old Plymouth man, “showed signs of impairment” when interviewed, according to police.
He was arrested and taken to the hospital for a blood draw.
The investigation is ongoing.
“Two things can be taken from this crash,” said Michigan State Police Lt. Mike Shaw. “First, do not drive impaired. There are too many options available. End of story. Second, if you do get a flat tire on the freeway, call 911. There are safety vans that can help change the tire and keep you safe. If you don’t want to wait, drive off at the next exit and change the tire off the freeway. It is too dangerous to get out of your vehicle on the freeway.”