Michigan State Police officer taken off life support following crash
(CBS DETROIT) — Michigan State Police Motor Carrier Officer Daniel Kerstetter has been taken off life support following Friday's fatal crash on I-75 in Detroit.
Kerstetter, 45, is a married father of three children. He was removed from life support after his family decided on organ donation.
Kerstetter joined MSP in 2023.
"We are heartbroken for this loss," Col. James F. Grady II, director of the MSP, said in a statement. "Traffic enforcement is dangerous work. The dedication of our motor carrier officers and troopers to keeping the public safe on our roadways is commendable and honorable. With the decision to give the gift of life, even in his death, MC Officer Kerstetter is serving others."
The crash happened around 8:30 a.m. Friday on I-75 near Dix Highway in Lincoln Park. Kerstetter had pulled a semi-truck over for a traffic violation.
While on the shoulder of the highway, Kerstetter's vehicle was rear-ended by a 38-year-old woman driving a Ford Explorer. Police say she struck the median wall, continued down the highway and struck the patrol vehicle.
Kerstetter was in the front seat of his vehicle with his seatbelt on when the crash happened. He was pinned between his vehicle and the semi-truck and had to be extricated from his vehicle.
The 38-year-old woman driving the Explorer died as a result of the crash. The semi-truck driver was not injured.
Police are still investigating the incident.
The Gift of Life Michigan is calling Kerstetter a hero for his decision to be an organ donor.
"This is someone who obviously cared a lot about people and took care of people when they were alive and also doing that through his death, which is really touching," said Dorrie Dils, CEO of Gift of Life Michigan.
A visitation will be held at the Verheyden Funeral Home in Grosse Pointe on Thursday from 1 to 8 p.m. A funeral mass is at 2 p.m. Friday at St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church in Grosse Pointe Farms.
