MSP: Suspect in crash that killed road worker surrenders
A suspect in the Interstate 94 crash that killed a Macomb County Department of Roads worker turned himself in to St. Clair Shores police this afternoon, according to Michigan State Police.
The suspect surrendered by 2 p.m. after MSP indicated this morning that troopers had located the suspect vehicle in the crash that killed Zachary Morisette, 27, of Chesterfield Township, Monday in St. Clair Shores.
“Thank you to anyone who left us a tip, themedia for their coverage and our thoughts are with Zack’s family,” MSP said over Twitter.
MSP announced earlier Wednesday the vehicle has been seized and was being examined for evidence. Investigators “developed leads into the identity of the driver and again would hope that that person would turn themselves in.”
Morisette was putting patch down on the side of eastbound I-94 south of Nine Mile Road shortly before 3 p.m. when he was fatally struck by a passing vehicle. The driver failed to stop.
Witnesses told MSP the vehicle was a white box-style truck.
MSP would not say howor where the vehicle was found, but credited “great work by troopers, detective and the public to help the family learn what happened.”
“We are not getting into the details just yet,” Lt. Michael Shaw told The Macomb Daily in an email.
County Executive Mark Hackel commended the work of the MSP and the public for providing tips, including the one leading to progress in the investigation.
“We’re grateful to the State Police for the work they have done to try to locate the person who was involved in this incident and, of course, the public,” said the former sheriff in a video update. “It takes a lot of tips, a lot of information, a lot of the public involvement to try to resolve some of these cases.”
MSP said the “investigation is moving quickly” and police will keep the public informed of developments.
Morisette had worked in the Roads Department for about six months, according to county officials.
A 2012 graduate of Anchor Bay High School,
he was a three-time cancer survivor, according to broadcast reports. He had been diagnosed with leukemia when he was 6. The cancer returned when he was 8 and again at age 13, but doctors had recently declared him cancer free, his family said.
“Zach was the strongest person I knew,” his brother Rodney Morisette told WJBK-TV (Channel 2). “He never stopped thinking about other people. He would have made a great father - because he was the perfect uncle.”
Funeral arrangements for Morisette have been finalized. Visitation is set for 2-8 p.m. Friday at Lee-Ellena Funeral Home, 46530 Romeo Plank Road, Macomb Township. A Mass will be held at 10 a.m. at St. Mary Queen of Creation Catholic Church, 50931 Maria St., New Baltimore, preceded at 9:30 a.m. by a gathering of family and friends.