L'ANSE, MI— A Baraga man was killed when a semi hit pumps at a L’Anse gas station Thursday night.
Michigan State Police from the Calumet Post responded around 11:10 p.m. to the Holiday gas station. They say a semi-truck and trailer hit the gas pumps and struck a 43-year-old Baraga man who was filling his vehicle with gas. The crash caused an extensive fire at the station and surrounding vehicles.
The man at the pumps was taken to Baraga County Memorial Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. A Holiday employee was also taken to the hospital for treatment. A store patron escaped without injury, as did a trainee in the semi.
The driver of the tractor-trailer, a 22-year-old man from Illinois, was arrested and lodged at the Baraga County Jail for operating while intoxicated, causing death.
US-41 was shut down for hours due to the fire and traffic crash investigation.
Troopers were assisted by the Baraga County Sheriff’s Office, Keweenaw Bay Tribal Police, Baraga Village Police, and L’Anse Police Department. Several local fire departments responded, including the L’Anse Fire Department, Baraga Fire Department, Houghton Fire Department, Arvon Fire Department, Aura Fire Department, Pelkie Fire Department.
MSP accident investigators and MSP Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division investigators are assisting with the investigation.