A tragic accident claimed the life of a 35-year-old man early Saturday morning in Berrien County, Michigan. Authorities say Jose Hernandez of Sawyer was struck and killed by a semi-truck on Interstate 94 near mile marker 14.2, close to Browntown Road in Lake Township. The fatal collision occurred just before 4 a.m. in the eastbound lanes.
Emergency responders arrived at the scene to find Hernandez already deceased. Initial reports suggest that he had been walking for some time before ending up on the interstate, though it remains unclear why he was there. Officials have not released details about where he may have come from or his intended destination.
The driver of the semi-truck, a man from Dearborn, Michigan, reportedly told authorities that he initially believed he had hit an animal. It was only after stopping his vehicle and checking the roadway that he discovered the victim was a person. He remained on the scene and fully cooperated with investigators. No injuries were reported to the driver.
The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department turned the case over to its Traffic Crash Unit, which is now leading the investigation. While authorities confirmed Hernandez had been walking, they are still working to determine how and why he ended up on I-94. No indication of drug or alcohol involvement has been found so far, and neither party is suspected of impairment at this time.
Local residents are mourning the sudden loss of Hernandez, though little is publicly known about his background. The incident has left the Sawyer community shaken and seeking answers. The dangers of walking along high-speed highways like I-94—especially in the dark, pre-dawn hours—have once again come into focus.
Law enforcement continues to urge caution for all road users and is asking the public for help. Anyone who may have seen Hernandez walking in the area before the crash or who may have relevant information is encouraged to come forward. As the investigation progresses, authorities hope to piece together the events leading up to the collision and provide some closure to Hernandez’s grieving family.