On the drive in this morning, it was raining and I was driving perhaps a little more carefully, because I was thinking over the bills I needed to pay during lunchtime, and realized that my car insurance was a little overdue. (Hey, it was Holy Week! I had other things to think about!)

On I-275, near the 7 mile exit, traffic slowed to a crawl, and then I heard the sirens. Stopping on the highway, two fire trucks passed right in front of me coming from the on-ramp, crossing all lanes of traffic and going across the median to the northbound lanes. Already there were a couple of police cars and ambulances. As I passed, I saw a pretty smashed up looking car, and what looked like the body of a person lying on the road, covered in what appeared to be plastic.

I hope that was not actually what I saw.

I pray for all those involved in that accident. 😦

Update:

Six cars crash on I-275 after man leaps from taxi
Tom Greenwood / The Detroit News
Livonia — Authorities aren’t sure why a passenger jumped from a moving taxi cab this morning, causing a multi-vehicle crash that closed down northbound Interstate 275 at Seven Mile.

According to the Michigan Intelligent Transportation System, the incident happened at about 7 a.m., and by the time it ended, six cars ended up crashing together.

Two persons reportedly received minor injuries, including one woman who was injured when her airbag deployed.

A spokesman at the Metro South Post of the Michigan State Police said the unidentified passenger also received minor injuries and was transported to Botsford Hospital, where his injuries were treated before he was admitted to the psychiatric unit for observation.

The MSP said it was unknown at this point if the taxi jumper would be charged.

Man jumps from moving taxi, causes I-275 snarl
BY TAMMY STABLES BATTAGLIA FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
April 15, 2009 08:07 AM

Traffic backed up this morning on I-275 at 7 Mile in Livonia after a passenger jumped out of a moving taxi and into highway traffic.

No one hit the man at 7:01 a.m., but two cars crashed into each other trying to avoid him in the northbound lanes, according to the Michigan State Police.

One of the drivers suffered a facial injury after her airbag deployed, but no one else was seriously hurt, a spokeswoman at MSP’s south post said.

The man who jumped was taken to a local hospital for treatment, and police were interviewing the taxi driver to see what led up to the accident.

By 7:45 a.m., only one lane of traffic was blocked, she added.