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A road shoulder is a dangerous place. Even brightly-lit police cars with emergency lighting aren’t immune to the occasional crash. It’s tragically what happened in a recent crash wherein a Michigan SUV driver plowed into a police car and a semi-truck on the side of the road after ignoring the vehicle’s emergency lighting. 

An SUV driver nearly flattened a cop and injured three people as it crashed into a police car and a semi-truck on a Michigan highway

A police officer stopped at an intersection after encountering a stalled semi-truck at around 8:35 a.m. According to the Kalkaska County Sheriff’s Office, the officer had stopped to assist the semi-truck driver when a Nissan SUV struck his parked Dodge Durango police vehicle, sending it into the wounded semi-truck.

Unfortunately for the officer, he wasn’t able to get clear of the Dodge Durango. The police vehicle took him off his feet and sent him into the intersection before crashing into the semi-truck, per Michigan Live.

However, the situation could have easily resulted in the officer pinned or crushed between the 5,400-lb patrol vehicle and the stalled truck. In addition to the Michigan officer’s injuries, the impact injured the truck driver and the Nissan SUV driver. 

Kalkaska County police hope motorists will remember to slow down when they see emergency lights on the roadside

Unfortunately, crashes and disasters like this one happen every day. Many accidental law enforcement deaths result from distracted drivers or speeding while officers are on the side of roads and highways. Incidentally, pre-pandemic data from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics suggested that around 40% of fatal and non-fatal injuries involved vehicles, including roadside strikes. 

Understandably, the Michigan law enforcement agency hopes the tragic event will serve as a sobering reminder to every driver to slow down and pay attention. “The Kalkaska Sheriff’s Office would like to remind all drivers to slow down on icy roads, especially when you see emergency vehicles with flashing lights,” the statement said.

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Staff Writer

Erik Sherman

Erik Sherman is a MotorBiscuit Staff Writer, an admitted petrolhead, and an avid motorcyclist. Erik also has extensive experience with military and emergency vehicles, ranging from ambulances and fire engines to MRAPs and Humvees. Erik is an eager car and motorcycle reviewer with expertise covering everything from sports cars and electric motorcycles to pontoon boats and jet skis. Erik holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Texas at Austin. He also studied Chinese, Energy, and European Politics at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. Erik’s background is unorthodox; he is a United States Marine Corps (USMC) combat veteran, water survival practitioner, and a former firefighter/EMT. Additionally, Erik is a regular volunteer and former instructor with the American Red Cross (ARC). When he’s not working, you can find Erik on his motorcycle or out for a spirited drive.