Driver Dies in Work Zone Crash

Michigan driver dead, passenger critical after hitting construction vehicle.

By Bradley Massman

April 20, 2026

2 min read

A driver died Sunday morning, and a passenger is in critical condition after their vehicle collided with an unoccupied construction vehicle, Michigan State Police said.

The crash was reported around 7:45 a.m. along southbound Lodge Freeway near Wyoming Avenue in Detroit.

Police said a construction zone was set up blocking the left and middle lanes, and there was a construction vehicle blocking the left lane.

Construction workers were outside the vehicle setting up cones when one worker observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed in the left lane.

The driver did not move over and hit the rear end of the unoccupied construction vehicle, police said.

The driver, identified as a 23-year-old man, was pronounced dead at the scene. One passenger, identified as a 30-year-old Southfield man, was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital in critical condition.

No other injuries were reported.

“This is a sad reminder of the dangers of excessive speed on our roadways,” said Michigan State Police Lt. Mike Shaw. “As National Work Zone Awareness Week kicks off today, we want to remind all drivers to slow down, move over and use the zipper merge to safely enter the zone.”