Officer Dies After Horrific Crash, Final Life Saving Act In Michigan [WATCH]

Michigan State Police Motor Carrier Officer Daniel Kerstetter, 45, has died after sustaining severe injuries in a traffic stop accident on Interstate 75.

Officer Kerstetter was critically injured on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, when his patrol vehicle was struck by a Ford Explorer while he was conducting a traffic stop in Lincoln Park.

Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, Kerstetter succumbed to his injuries on Sunday, after his family made the decision to remove him from life support.

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Officer Kerstetter’s organs were donated in accordance with his wishes, continuing his service to others even in death.

Michigan State Police Director Col. James F. Grady II expressed his sorrow at the loss of a dedicated officer. “We are heartbroken for this loss,” Grady 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.”

Crash Details

The tragic accident occurred around 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 13, when Officer Kerstetter had stopped his patrol vehicle behind a semi-truck near Dix Highway on northbound I-75. Kerstetter, who was seated in his vehicle with his seat belt fastened, was struck by a Ford Explorer that had collided with a median wall before continuing down the freeway.

The impact of the crash forced Kerstetter’s patrol car into the back of the semi-truck.

The driver of the Ford Explorer, an unidentified female, died at the scene, while the driver of the semi-truck was not injured.

Preliminary investigations, based on witness statements, suggest that the Ford Explorer hit the median wall before veering into Kerstetter’s patrol vehicle. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the accident.

A Dedicated Officer and Family Man

Officer Kerstetter joined the Michigan State Police in January 2023 and graduated as part of the 26th Motor Carrier Officer Recruit School in May of that year.

He was assigned to the Metro North Post, part of the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division, which focuses on monitoring commercial vehicle size, weight, and compliance with traffic laws.

Kerstetter was known for his dedication to keeping Michigan’s roads safe. Motor Carrier Officers, like Kerstetter, are uniformed, armed members of the Michigan State Police who specialize in commercial vehicle enforcement.

Their responsibilities include conducting vehicle and driver inspections and enforcing hazardous material regulations.

Kerstetter leaves behind a wife and three children. His family’s decision to donate his organs is seen as a continuation of his commitment to helping others, a value he held throughout his life and career.

Outpouring of Support and Grief

The Michigan State Police have received an outpouring of support from fellow officers, emergency responders, and the public in the wake of Kerstetter’s passing. “We are deeply grateful for the emergency responders who were on the scene and continue to provide support,” the Michigan State Police said in a statement.

Heartbreaking Update

We have learned that Michigan State Police Officer Daniel Kerstetter has passed away from injuries sustained during that horrific rear-end collision on Friday.

Please join us in praying for his loved ones and friends.

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The department is expected to release details about Kerstetter’s funeral in the coming days.

Read the full statement from the Michigan State Police:

The Michigan State Police (MSP) is deeply saddened to share that Motor Carrier Officer Daniel Kerstetter with the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division will be removed from life support pending the completion of his family’s decision to donate his organs. MC Officer Kerstetter was not able to overcome injuries he sustained as a result of a September 13, 2024, on-duty traffic crash.

MC Officer Kerstetter, 45 years of age, joined the MSP in January of 2023, graduating as a member of the 26th Motor Carrier Officer Recruit School on May 25, 2023. He was assigned to the Metro North Post. MC Officer Kerstetter is married and has three children.

“We are heartbroken for this loss,” said Col. James F. Grady II, director of the MSP. “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.”

At approximately 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 13, MC Officer Kerstetter was stopped on the side of Northbound I-75 near Dix in Lincoln Park conducting a traffic stop, when his patrol vehicle was struck by another motorist. MC Officer Kerstetter was seated in his vehicle with his seat belt on at the time of the crash. Preliminary investigation and witness statements indicate that a Ford Explorer struck the median wall before continuing down the freeway, eventually striking MC Officer Kerstetter’s patrol vehicle, and pushing it into the back of the semi-truck. The driver of the Ford Explorer did not survive the crash. The semi-truck driver was not injured.

The MSP wishes to acknowledge our many police partners and emergency responders who assisted at the scene and who continue to provide support to our department. We also want to thank the staff and medical professionals at Detroit Receiving Hospital for their supportive care.

Motor carrier officers are armed uniformed members of the MSP who specialize in commercial vehicle enforcement. They enforce traffic safety laws on commercial vehicles, protect the infrastructure through aggressive size and weight enforcement, conduct commercial vehicle and driver inspections and contribute to homeland security efforts by enforcing hazardous material regulations.

The traffic crash remains under investigation.

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