CRASH DATE
Friday, September 4, 2026
TIME
Morning (≈ exact time not released)
LOCATION
Eastbound I-96 east of Grand River Ave, Brighton Township, Livingston County
FAST FACTS
| Date & time | Friday morning, September 4, 2026 (exact time not released) |
| Location | Eastbound I-96 east of Grand River Avenue, Brighton Township, Livingston County |
| Vehicles | 2020 Jeep Cherokee; 2015 Ford Super Duty truck towing a woodchipper |
| Injuries | A 41-year-old Pontiac passenger was ejected and critically injured; both drivers were uninjured |
| Road impact | Eastbound I-96 closed about four hours for investigation and cleanup |
| Investigating agency | Livingston County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Safety Bureau |
What Happened
A 41-year-old Pontiac man was critically injured when he was thrown from a work truck in a crash on eastbound I-96 in Brighton Township on Friday morning, according to the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office, which released details of the crash on Saturday.
The sheriff’s office said its preliminary investigation indicates a 28-year-old Wixom man was driving a 2020 Jeep Cherokee east on I-96, east of Grand River Avenue, at a high rate of speed when the Jeep hydroplaned and its driver lost control. The Jeep then struck a woodchipper that was being towed by a 2015 Ford Super Duty truck, deputies said, as reported by WHMI.
The impact caused the Ford to jackknife, lose control and rotate, and during the rotation the truck’s passenger, a 41-year-old Pontiac resident, was ejected from the vehicle, according to the sheriff’s office. He was taken by Livingston County EMS to the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor in critical condition. The Ford’s driver, a 31-year-old Stockbridge man, and the Jeep’s driver were not injured.
Deputies said the ejected passenger was the only person involved who was not wearing a seatbelt, and that speed appears to be the contributing factor in the crash. Reporting: WHMI 93.5, with information from the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office.
The Investigation: What Happens Next
The crash remains under investigation by the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Safety Bureau. Deputies were assisted at the scene by Brighton Police, the Brighton Area Fire Department, the Michigan State Police, MSP Motor Carrier officers and Livingston County EMS — the presence of Motor Carrier officers is routine when a work vehicle and towed equipment are involved.
Investigators have pointed to speed as the apparent contributing factor, alongside wet pavement that allowed the Jeep to hydroplane. Findings about vehicle speeds, road conditions and the towing setup will be documented in the final crash report.
The Legal Picture
Who pays the medical bills after a crash like this? Under Michigan’s no-fault system, a person injured in a motor-vehicle crash generally turns first to no-fault personal injury protection benefits for medical care and a portion of lost wages, regardless of fault. Our overview of Michigan no-fault insurance explains how those benefits work.
Does it matter that a work truck and towed equipment were involved? Crashes involving work vehicles and towed machinery can add layers — employer insurance policies, commercial coverage and questions about the towing configuration. Our guide to working with a truck accident lawyer covers how those cases differ from ordinary two-car collisions.
What about serious, long-term injuries? When an injury is critical, the long-term picture — rehabilitation, future care, and lost earning capacity — matters far more than the immediate aftermath. Resources on how such claims are valued are collected in our page on truck accident settlements.
Nothing in this section assumes fault by anyone involved in this crash. The investigation is ongoing, and all findings will come from the investigating agencies.
This Stretch of Road
I-96 through Brighton Township is one of Livingston County’s busiest freeway segments, funneling commuters between Lansing, Howell, Brighton and the Detroit suburbs. The area east of the Grand River Avenue interchange sees heavy weekday volumes, and closures there ripple quickly onto Grand River and US-23. In this case, the sheriff’s office said the freeway was closed for about four hours for the investigation and cleanup.
Hydroplaning crashes cluster on high-speed roads during and after rain, when standing water collects in wheel ruts and low spots. Traffic-safety agencies note that the risk rises sharply with speed — the faster a vehicle travels, the less water it takes to lift tires off the pavement.
If You Saw This Crash
If you were traveling eastbound on I-96 near Grand River Avenue on Friday morning and witnessed the crash or the moments before it, the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Safety Bureau is handling the investigation. Dashcam video showing the vehicles before the collision could help investigators confirm speeds and lane positions.