Driver Dead After Striking Sheriff’s Office Vehicles on M-59, Deputies Injured
(OCSO, Aug. 20, 2023)
Rochester Hills, MI – A 29-year-old Shelby Township man was fatally injured late Saturday when he struck two Oakland County Sheriff’s Office vehicles that had been dispatched earlier to block traffic so that a disabled vehicle could be removed from M-59.
Two Sheriff’s deputies were injured in the crash.
“While the crash investigation is ongoing, the one thing is that is clear is how dangerous it is for emergency vehicles and wreckers on the side of the road,” Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. “It is a tragic reminder to the public to stay capable of driving, focused and move over a lane, away from any emergency vehicles on the side of the road as required by law.” The crash happened at approximately 11:59 p.m. Saturday on eastbound M-59 near Rochester Road in Rochester Hills. Deputies were on the scene to assist with traffic as a vehicle which had caught fire earlier was being removed by a tow truck from the left lane of M-59. The deputies were sitting in their fully marked patrol vehicles blocking traffic the shoulder and the left lane of M-59. Each vehicle had its emergency lights activated. A 2004 Ford F150 truck heading eastbound on M-59 failed to move over or slow down for the emergency vehicles. The truck rear ended the patrol vehicle that was blocking the left lane, causing the patrol vehicle to spin, and hit the second patrol vehicle that was blocking the shoulder. The truck came to rest on the side of the road. The driver of the truck, identified as Nicholas Leach, was trapped in the vehicle, and was extricated by Rochester Hills firefighters. He was taken to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead. -more- COUNTY OF OAKLAND OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF MICHAEL J. BOUCHARD 1200 N. TELEGRAPH ROAD BLDG 38E • PONTIAC MI • 48341-1044 • (248) 858-5000 Midnight Crash on M-59 Kills Driver and Injures Two Deputies – page 2 The deputy that was rear-ended suffered serious injuries and was transported to a hospital by deputies and is listed in stable condition. The second deputy was treated for minor injuries. It is unknown if alcohol and drug use were a factor in this crash. The incident remains under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit.
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