Michigan State Trooper taken off life support after fatally injured in I-75 crash

LINCOLN PARK, Michigan. – A Michigan State Police trooper who was fatally injured in a crash on I-75 northbound in Lincoln Park has been taken off life support, police said.

The accident occurred around 8:40 a.m. on Friday, September 13, 2024, on I-75 northbound near Dix in Lincoln Park.

According to police, a Michigan State Police trooper was conducting a traffic stop on a semi-truck when he was struck by another vehicle. Witnesses told police the car hit the median before hitting the patrol car and pushing it into the back of the semi-truck.

The accident left the officer trapped in the patrol car. The officer was freed and taken to a nearby hospital, where he was initially in critical condition. Police said the officer, now identified as Danny Kerstetter, will be taken off life support and his organs will be donated.

The woman in the car that struck the police officer's vehicle was pronounced dead on Friday. The driver of the semi-trailer was not injured.

Kerstetter served with the Michigan State Police for two years.

“We are deeply saddened by this loss,” said Col. James F. Grady II, MSP director. “Traffic enforcement is dangerous work. The dedication of our traffic officers and patrol officers to keep the public safe on our roads is commendable and honorable. By choosing to give the gift of life, MC Officer Kerstetter continues to serve others even after his death.”

—> Previous report: Here's what we know about the crash that injured a Michigan State Trooper and killed a woman on I-75 near Dix