A woman was arrested early Wednesday after crashing her car into a ditch full of water along Interstate 94 in Taylor, officials said.
Michigan State Police troopers were called at about 3:40 a.m. to a location along eastbound I-94 near Ecorse Road in Taylor for a report of a crash, according to authorities.
They arrived and found a car that had struck a pole and was submerged in water in a ditch, police said. Troopers also located a 25-year-old Newport woman who they suspected was intoxicated, according to MSP.
She told troopers that her boyfriend was still in the vehicle, investigators said.
Police said they searched the crash site, but did not find the man or another person. A dive team also searched the ditch, authorities said.
They said the dive team removed the vehicle from the ditch and discovered it was unoccupied. Divers searched the water but did not locate anyone, officials said.
Troopers arrested the woman and had her blood drawn for analysis, MSP said. Investigators are waiting for the results of the test before they submit their findings to the county prosecutor to review.
“This driver was very lucky that other drivers noticed debris from her crash,” Michigan State Police First Lt. Mike Shaw said on X. “Her vehicle was far enough in the wood line and became submerged in the ditch, and would have been very difficult to see from the roadway. Again, the message is clear: do not drive impaired.”
State police said Tuesday that since last week, 28 people died on Michigan roadways, raising the total number of traffic deaths to 823 so far this year. In addition, 133 more people were seriously injured in the same period, bringing the statewide total of injuries to 4,343 to date. Compared to last year at this time, there are five more fatalities and 55 fewer serious injuries.
Wednesday’s incident is the latest in southeast Michigan in which a vehicle ended up submerged in a body of water.
In August, authorities rescued a 70-year-old woman from drowning in Lake St. Clair after she drove into the water.
In January, a 66-year-old Monroe man was arrested after leading authorities on a car chase during which a police vehicle ended up in a river.
That same month, Clinton Township police rescued a man who drove his vehicle into a retention pond at an apartment complex near Hall and Elizabeth roads.
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@CharlesERamirez

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