Driver Killed, Three Passengers Injured After Vehicle Strikes Downed Tree in Hillsdale County

A 21-year-old man died and three passengers were injured early Friday morning when their vehicle struck a downed tree in Hillsdale County, Michigan. The Michigan State Police attributed the single-vehicle collision to severe storm conditions that impacted the region overnight.

State troopers from the Jackson post responded to the scene at approximately 12:45 a.m. at the intersection of Meridian Road and Hoxie Road in Wheatland Township. Upon arrival, investigators determined that the vehicle had collided with a tree that fell across the roadway due to hazardous weather.

The driver, a Hillsdale resident, succumbed to his injuries. The three passengers in the vehicle sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to a local hospital for treatment. Authorities have not released the names of the victims.

The fatal crash occurred after a severe weather system, which previously spawned tornadoes in the Chicago area, moved through Southern Lower Michigan late Thursday. A severe weather alert had been issued for Hillsdale County around 8 p.m. Thursday, accompanied by multiple tornado warnings along the Michigan-Indiana border.