Two Men Killed on Eastbound I-94 in Calhoun County After Semi-Truck Strikes Them While They Checked a Flat Tire

By TruckCrash News Desk · September 1, 2026

What Happened

Two men were killed Tuesday morning when a semi-truck struck them on the shoulder of eastbound I-94 near 22½ Mile Road in Marengo Township, east of Marshall in Calhoun County, according to the Michigan State Police as reported by WWMT Newschannel 3. Investigators said the men — a 51-year-old from Grabill, Indiana, and a 40-year-old from Aurora, Illinois — had pulled over and gotten out of their vehicle to inspect a flat tire when they were hit while standing along the freeway.

Both men died as a result of the collision, state police said. The driver of the semi-truck, who remained inside the truck, sustained minor injuries, according to the reporting. We extend our sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of both men.

Troopers closed eastbound I-94 at Exit 115 for several hours while crash reconstructionists documented the scene, and the freeway reopened at about 9:30 p.m., per WWMT. Investigators said alcohol and drugs are not believed to have been involved.

“This tragic crash is a reminder of how dangerous it can be to exit a vehicle along a busy freeway,” MSP Lt. DuWayne Robinson said, urging drivers whose vehicles become disabled to remain inside with seatbelts fastened whenever possible, according to WWMT. Reporting: WWMT Newschannel 3, with information from the Michigan State Police.

The Investigation: What Happens Next

The Michigan State Police are handling the investigation, and fatal freeway crashes like this one typically involve a detailed reconstruction: measurements taken at the scene, an inspection of the semi-truck, downloads of any electronic control module data, and a review of the truck driver’s hours-of-service records, which federal rules require commercial carriers to keep. Investigators will also look at sight lines, lighting, and traffic conditions on that stretch of eastbound I-94 at the time of the crash.

Findings are commonly forwarded to the county prosecutor once the reconstruction is complete, a process that can take weeks or months. State police have not announced any charges, and no fault has been assigned. Anyone who witnessed the crash can contact the MSP Marshall Post.

The Legal Picture

Q1: What happens after a fatal crash involving a commercial truck?

Crashes involving commercial vehicles are investigated differently than ordinary car crashes. Federal motor-carrier regulations govern everything from driver hours to vehicle maintenance, and investigators typically preserve the truck’s electronic data and inspection history. An overview of how these cases differ is available in our guide to truck accident claims in Michigan.

Q2: How does Michigan no-fault insurance apply to out-of-state victims?

Michigan’s no-fault system pays certain benefits regardless of fault, but the rules for non-residents injured in Michigan are more complicated and depend on the insurance policies involved. Our explainer on Michigan no-fault insurance covers how these benefits generally work.

Q3: Who investigates whether a road or traffic conditions played a role?

Police reconstruction reports usually address roadway conditions, signage, and visibility alongside driver actions. Families sometimes obtain these reports once investigations close, and they often become the factual backbone of any later civil claim.

This section discusses Michigan law in general terms only. It makes no assumptions about what happened in this crash or about the actions of anyone involved, and no fault has been determined by investigators.

This Stretch of Road

I-94 through Calhoun County is one of Michigan’s busiest freight corridors, carrying heavy commercial traffic between Detroit and Chicago. The area around Marshall and Marengo Township sees a steady mix of long-haul trucks and local traffic, and the corridor has been the scene of repeated serious crashes over the years, including multi-vehicle pileups in winter conditions and truck-involved collisions near the I-69 interchange a few miles west of Tuesday’s crash scene.

Shoulder strikes are a persistent danger on high-speed freeways like this one. Safety officials consistently advise that a vehicle with a flat tire or mechanical trouble be driven as far from live lanes as possible, and that occupants stay inside with seatbelts on and call for help rather than standing beside the roadway.

If You Saw This Crash

Witness accounts often become an important part of crash investigations, particularly where investigators are still reconstructing how a vehicle left its lane or how fast traffic was moving. If you saw this crash, saw the vehicles in the moments before it, or have dash-camera footage from the area around that time, investigators would likely want to hear from you. The Michigan State Police Marshall Post is handling the investigation.

Even small details — where a vehicle was positioned, whether brake lights came on, how traffic was flowing — can help investigators complete the picture of what happened.

More on This Crash

• Eastbound I-94 shut down for double-fatal semi-truck crash in Calhoun County — WWMT Newschannel 3