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CRASH DATE
Tuesday, September 22, 2026
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TIME
≈ 8:00 a.m.
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LOCATION
Eastbound US-12 near Burke Road, Mottville Township, St. Joseph County
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By TruckCrash News Desk · Michigan Daily Crash Report
| Date & time | Tuesday, September 22, 2026, about 8:00 a.m. |
| Location | Eastbound US-12 near Burke Road, Mottville Township, St. Joseph County (near White Pigeon) |
| Vehicles | Semi-truck; travel trailer (RV) stopped at a construction-zone traffic signal |
| Injuries | Semi-truck driver, 75, of Elkhart, Indiana, died at the hospital; RV driver treated for non-life-threatening injuries |
| Road impact | Eastbound US-12 closed until about 2 p.m. |
| Investigating agency | Michigan State Police, Marshall Post |
What Happened
A 75-year-old semi-truck driver from Elkhart, Indiana, died Tuesday morning after rear-ending a travel trailer that was stopped at a temporary traffic signal in a construction zone on eastbound US-12 near Burke Road in St. Joseph County's Mottville Township, near White Pigeon.
Michigan State Police said the crash happened around 8 a.m. when the eastbound semi struck the rear of the travel trailer, which was halted where a signal was controlling one-lane traffic through the work zone. The truck driver was taken to a hospital, where he later died of his injuries, according to WWMT (News Channel 3) and the Sturgis Journal. The trailer's driver was also hospitalized, with injuries described as non-life-threatening.
Investigators said both drivers were wearing seat belts, and Michigan State Police reported no evidence that alcohol or drugs were a factor in the crash. Eastbound US-12 was closed for several hours while crews investigated and cleared the scene, reopening by about 2 p.m.
Reporting: WWMT (News Channel 3) and the Sturgis Journal, with information from the Michigan State Police.
The Investigation: What Happens Next
Michigan State Police's Marshall Post is investigating the crash. Troopers said a preliminary review found no evidence that alcohol or drugs played a role; the agency has not released further findings about what caused the semi to strike the stopped trailer.
As with any fatal commercial-vehicle crash, the incident will be documented in state and federal systems that track crash history and carrier safety. No additional details have been released, and none should be assumed while the investigation continues.
The Legal Picture
Q: What determines fault when a moving vehicle strikes one that is stopped at a traffic signal? Fault in a Michigan crash is determined by the investigating agency based on the evidence gathered at the scene, not assumed from the outcome. No fault determination has been made public in this case.
Q: How does Michigan's no-fault law apply to a crash like this? Michigan's no-fault insurance system generally governs how medical costs and other losses from a motor-vehicle crash are handled in the state, regardless of which driver is later found responsible.
Q: Are construction zones held to different traffic rules? Michigan law requires reduced speeds and heightened caution in posted construction zones, and violations committed in an active work zone can carry enhanced penalties. Whether that applied here has not been reported.
This Stretch of Road
US-12 through St. Joseph County is a two-lane state trunkline that runs close to the Indiana border and passes through Mottville Township near White Pigeon. At the time of this crash, road crews had reduced the eastbound approach to one lane, controlled by a temporary traffic signal — a common setup on rural stretches of US-12 during active construction. Drivers approaching a work-zone signal are required to be prepared to stop for traffic already queued ahead of them.
If You Saw This Crash
Anyone who witnessed the crash on eastbound US-12 near Burke Road Tuesday morning, or who has dash-camera video from around 8 a.m., is asked to contact the Michigan State Police Marshall Post.
- WWMT News Channel 3: Driver of semi-truck dead after crash with RV in St. Joseph County
- Sturgis Journal (via Yahoo News): 1 dead, 1 hurt in St. Joseph County semi crash
About TruckCrash News: TruckCrash News publishes daily reports on traffic crashes across Michigan, drawn from official statements by police agencies and reporting from local news outlets. Our goal is to keep Michigan drivers informed about serious crashes, road closures, and traffic safety issues in their communities.
This article is based on information available at the time of publication from the cited sources. Details may change as investigations continue. Nothing in this article is legal advice, and nothing in it should be read as assigning fault or legal responsibility to any person. All persons are presumed innocent of any traffic offense unless established by the proper authorities.