Wrong way driver in I-75 crash is in fair-condition
12/20/2013The condition of a 66-year-old man who authorities said drove a sport utility vehicle the wrong way onto I-75 at Alexis Road and crashed with four other vehicles has been upgraded.
Michael Kane, 66, of Haskins, Ohio, was taken to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center after the Wednesday crash that closed northbound I-75 for about two and a half hours. A hospital spokesman said Thursday afternoon that he was listed in critical condition, but a spokesman that evening reported he had improved to fair condition.
The SUV he was driving struck a van, a car, and a semi trailer before it was hit by another semi just before 9 p.m., police said.
Kane entered the highway at Alexis, driving south in the northbound lanes. His vehicle struck the passenger side of a van driven by Georges Debs, 52, of Westland, Mich. His vehicle then hit the driver’s side of a car driven by Lance Joseph, 19, of Maybee, Mich., police said.
Kane’s vehicle struck the rear passenger side of the trailer of a semi driven by Illja Gravranovic, 60, of Oakville, Ont. A tractor-trailer driven by Brandon McKeever, 22, of New London, Wis., then struck the passenger side of Kane’s SUV, police said.
The van and car were carrying passengers, but no one else was hurt, police said.
Toledo police Sgt. Joe Heffernan said authorities are waiting for toxicology tests before filing charges, but there were no obvious signs of impairment.
The highway exit where Kane entered is marked warning drivers not to enter the wrong way.