After seeing Local 4’s I-75 crash zone investigation, two victims had to share their stories with us.
“We walked away from death,” said John Laporte.
“Both vehicles were on fire instantly,” said Paul Boots.
The reaction to our investigation of I-75 crash hot spots has been strong. Many viewers want to share their stories and concerns about the interstate.
The reaction to driving on the interstate and safety concerns are huge concerns. Many viewers, like Boots and Laporte, reached out.
“I still have the pictures because some people don’t believe it,” Laporte said.
The pictures he shared showed how engulfed his vehicle became, telling quite a story.
“I thought it was going through the front window,” Boots said.
Boots was the viewer who reached out, saying they had to share their I-75 crash story.
Their crash even made our news when a semi-truck smashed into their Chevy truck on I-75.
The men were traveling south on I-75 while coming off of I-94 as the semi approached.
“You got a truck going down the berm crossing 75 then it hit the back left corner where there was no one sitting and stuck to us like glue, and then it pushed us across all three lanes; we hit the right barrier on the right side, and it just hammered us against the barrier on the right side,” Boots said.
The men said they were making sure everyone was OK before realizing they had to get out of the car as it was on fire.
Both trucks were engulfed in moments while everyone escaped with minor injuries.
We reviewed five years of crash data and compiled the top four spots where you are most likely to crash in Metro Detroit:
- I-75 between 6 Mile and 7 Mile roads
- I-75 between 9 Mile and I-696
- I-75 between Davison Highway and I-696
- I-75 between 11 Mile and 12 Mile roads.
Viewers chimed in like Elaine, who said, “People don’t like to let you over in the curve coming off at 8 Mile Road.
Kristine said, “It sounds like anywhere from 6 Mile to 12 Mile roads is a place you don’t want to be.”
Roger said, “When I was a State Trooper assigned to the Detroit Post and (then) Northville Post, -75 has always been a mess.”
Things are shifting in a different direction to make those areas safer.
“We can put an epoxy layer on there that has a little extra grit in it, an aggregate product that’s like a stone product to give the tires a little more, something to grab onto,” said Diane Cross, a Public Information Officer with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT).
Everything is not the city’s fault, as some responsibility can be placed on the drivers.
“I like to use the Detroit reference. I call it the big three. Excessive speed, following too close, and distracted driving. That’s it. That’s the big three,” said Michigan State Police Lt. Mike Shaw.
“One of the firefighters said, ‘I have been doing this job for 34 years, and I’ve never seen anything like this where people walked away from that,” Boots said.
Viewers and victims often shared their stories about paying extra attention while driving, especially on I-75.
