On 10-11-19 at approx. 8:55 am Berrien County Public Safety dispatch received 911 calls of a traffic crash involving a semi-tractor trailer along I-94 westbound in New Buffalo Twp. Upon arrival, first responders found the semi-truck engulfed in flames and were unable to get to the driver. Investigators learned thru witness interviews that the semi-truck had struck a guardrail before running off the roadway eventually striking a tree bursting into flames. It is unknown at this time if the driver suffered some type of mechanical issue or possibly a medical emergency causing him to run off the roadway.
The driver, and only occupant of the vehicle, was found deceased inside the truck and was transported to WMU Homer Stryker School of Medicine in Kalamazoo where an autopsy will be conducted to confirm identity and cause of death.
The truck is registered to Nationwide Truck Brokers of Byron Center, Michigan and was hauling clothing for Meijer to Wisconsin. The crash is being investigated by the Berrien County Sheriff’s accident investigation unit. The drivers name and hometown are being withheld until next of kin can be notified.
******UPDATE*******10-17-2019
An autopsy was completed on Oct 12, 2019 and the driver of the semi-truck was identified as David Monroe, 65 yrs of age from Holt, Michigan. The cause of this traffic crash is still under investigation.