Milan man dies in US-23 crash caused by miles-long backup from earlier wreck

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A Milan man died when his car slammed into the back of a semi truck stopped in a miles-long backup from an earlier wreck on northbound U.S. 23 Monday night, Michigan State Police said.

Samuel Fital, 21, was pronounced dead at the scene after his car struck the rear of the truck on northbound U.S. 23 near Willis Road in York Township about 10 p.m. Monday. The truck, driven by Clarence Pullins 34, of Chicago, was stopped in the backup from an earlier crash south of Michigan Avenue that closed the freeway for hours while police and firefighters worked to clear the highway of spilled appliances and leaking fuel. Pullins was not injured.

Fital was the only occupant of the vehicle and was wearing his seatbelt, police said. Speed and alcohol were not believed to be factors in the crash, police said.

The crash that led to the backup in which Fital died occurred about 7 p.m. south of Michigan Avenue when a southbound pickup truck crossed the median and struck a northbound box truck carrying a load of appliances, said Pittsfield Township Fire Capt. Greg Payeur. The second truck rolled over and spilled its load, littering the freeway with appliances, including washing machines and dryers, Payeur said.

Huron Valley Ambulance paramedics took the drivers, both men, to area hospitals. One went to University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor in stable condition. The other was taken to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Superior Township in unstable condition, HVA spokeswoman Joyce Williams said.

Payeur said both drivers were expected to recover from their injuries. The driver of the truck carrying the appliances got out of the vehicle on his own. Firefighters pulled the other driver from the wreckage.

Both vehicles were heavily damaged in the crash and many of the appliances were smashed beyond recognition, Payeur said. Police and firefighters were able to open one lane of the freeway by about 11 p.m. at Michigan Avenue, Payeur said.

By that time, however, the freeway was closed near Willis Road for the second crash. The freeway was not reopened at the second crash site until about 2 a.m.

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Cindy Heflin is associate news director at AnnArbor.com. Contact her at cindyheflin@annarbor.com or 734-623-2572 or follow her on Twitter.