Highland Park, MI (August 28, 2026) – One person was killed, and another was seriously injured on Thursday morning, August 27, in a single-vehicle crash on Woodward Avenue near the Davison Freeway in Highland Park. The collision happened shortly before 5:30 a.m.
According to police, a Chevrolet Equinox was traveling north on Woodward Avenue when it crossed the center line and struck a telephone pole.
The driver suffered serious injuries and was taken to a hospital. The passenger, a 36-year-old man, was also seriously injured. Emergency crews treated him at the scene, but he was pronounced dead.
Michigan State Police and Highland Park Police are investigating. Woodward Avenue was closed in both directions, along with part of the Davison Freeway, while investigators reconstructed the scene.
We extend our sincere condolences to the passenger’s family and loved ones, and we hope the injured driver receives attentive care and recovers fully.
Why Can Single-Vehicle Pole Crashes Cause Severe or Fatal Injuries?
Fixed objects such as utility poles do not move much during impact, so a vehicle can absorb a large amount of force in a very short distance.
The severity can increase when the front or side of the vehicle strikes a narrow object, concentrating crash forces into a smaller part of the passenger compartment.
Travel speed, impact angle, vehicle structure, seating position, and restraint use can all affect injury severity. Crashes with fixed roadside objects can be especially dangerous because there is usually little room for the vehicle to dissipate energy after impact.
