Lapeer County authorities report that a man is dead and a woman was injured but in stable condition after a wrong-way crash on I-69 on Wednesday.
The crash, which occurred on eastbound I-69, east of Elba Township’s Lake Nepessing Road shortly before 5:00 p.m. on March 13, saw a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze leaving westbound I-69 and crossing the median into eastbound I-69. The car continued driving until it struck a 2011 Ford Explorer head-on, flipping both vehicles and requiring firefighters to extract both drivers.
The driver of the Cruze, identified as 31-year-old Derek Hockin, was pronounced deceased on the scene, with investigators exploring a possible medical condition as a factor in the crash. They do not believe drugs or alcohol were involved.
The Ford Explorer’s driver, a 22-year-old woman from Lapeer, was taken via Lapeer County EMS to McLaren Lapeer Region Hospital, and is reportedly in stable conditions.
Assisting the Lapeer County Sheriff’s Office at the scene were the Elba Township Fire, Michigan State Police, Lapeer City Police, Lapeer Township Police, and Metamora Township Police.
