91-year-old passenger killed in rear-end crash on I-75 in Detroit that left freeway closed for several hours

DETROIT (WWJ) — An elderly man has died after a crash on I-75 in Detroit left the freeway closed for several hours on Monday afternoon.

The crash happened shortly before 1:30 p.m. along northbound I-75 near Canfield, according to Michigan State Police.

With traffic backed up from a previous crash in the area that had happened moments earlier, MSP officials say a 72-year-old River Rouge woman rear-ended a car that was stopped in traffic.

After she hit the stopped vehicle, the woman’s car then hit a semi-truck that was slowly coming to a stop.

A 91-year-old River Rouge man who was a passenger in the woman’s car was unconscious when first responders got to the scene. He was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The woman driving the at-fault car complained of chest pain and was taken to the hospital. Her condition was not clear Monday evening.

Authorities say family members have been notified. The investigation pends medical examiner reports and vehicle inspections.

The freeway remained closed for more than two hours as police investigated and crews cleared the wreckage. It reopened just before 5 p.m.