A Michigan State Police motor carrier officer has died from injuries he sustained Friday when his vehicle was struck by another car along I-75, pinning it under a semi.
MSP officials confirm to 7 News Detroit that Officer Daniel Kerstetter was removed from life support after the decision was made about organ donation.
We're told Officer Kerstetter's organs will be donated, as he continues to serve others even after his death.
“We are heartbroken for this loss,” MSP Director Col. James F. Grady II said in a statement on Sunday. “Traffic enforcement is dangerous work. The dedication of our motor carrier officers and troopers to keeping the public safe on our roadways is commendable and honorable. With the decision to give the gift of life, even in his death, MC Officer Kerstetter is serving others.”
According to Michigan State Police, the crash happened Friday happened along northbound I-75 near Dix in Lincoln Park around 8:40 a.m.
VIDEO: Chopper 7 over the scene of the crash below:
Police say the trooper was on a traffic stop when their vehicle was hit by another vehicle. The female driver of the vehicle that hit the patrol car died from her injuries.
VIDEO: Hear the Friday update from MSP Director Col. James Grady in the video player below
“I knew it wasn’t normal, because everything else went silent,” said Jim Bush, a neighbor who lives near I-75. “Everything else went silent, all the cars stopped, there was no noise after that, so I kind of figured that something had gone wrong.”
“I heard a big bang … it kind of scared me a little bit, and I got up and everybody was running back there,” said another neighbor.
Police say the motor carrier officer was inside his patrol vehicle and seat-belted in when it was hit. He was pinned inside the vehicle and had to be extricated from it.
VIDEO: Chopper shows line of MSP vehicles outside hospital after motor carrier officer injured:
Police are reminding drivers of the Move Over Law, which requires drivers to slow down at least 10 mph and fully move over into an open lane when approaching a stationary vehicle with flashing, rotating or oscillating lights activated. If you can't move over due to traffic, weather or road conditions, slow down at least 10 mph below the posted speed limit and pass with caution, allowing the authorized vehicle as much space as possible.
