An Ann Arbor firefighter was struck and killed on Interstate 696 in Farmington Hills this morning, apparently while trying to change a tire, Michigan State Police said.
Dan Armitage
Matt Schroeder, president of the Ann Arbor firefighters union, spoke with AnnArbor.com by phone today. He said it's been an emotional day for the department.
"We hired on together in 1995," he said of Armitage. "He was a fantastic professional fireman who loved his family and he did his job well every day, and he's going to be greatly missed by our department. We'll do whatever we can to support the family."
Schroeder said Armitage was a driver at Engine 6 at the Briarwood fire station on Ann Arbor's south side. He was married with young children.
"Our department is shocked and deeply saddened by the news of Dan’s tragic death," Ann Arbor Fire Chief Chuck Hubbard said in a statement. "As Dan's identity was just recently confirmed, we are still in the process of sharing this news with the rest of the department. This is a very difficult time for us all."
Reached by phone later in the day, Hubbard said Armitage was well liked in the department. "He was a good family man and just a great all-around person."
Armitage is the second Ann Arbor firefighter in six years to die when struck by a vehicle along a freeway. Amy Schnearle-Pennywitt died in January 2006 from injuries suffered when she was struck at an accident scene on I-94 in Ann Arbor by a pickup truck that spun out of control on the icy road.
A preliminary investigation indicates Armitage was on the north shoulder of westbound 696 at Farmington Road changing a tire, state police said in a press release.
At some point, he ended up on the ground in the right lane of the freeway and was hit by the vehicles whose drivers were unable to avoid him.
Another vehicle crashed into the median wall, and the driver suffered minor injuries, the release stated.
- Watch a Channel 4 video about the accident.
- See a Detroit Free Press video below:
AnnArbor.com government and politics reporter Ryan J. Stanton contributed to this story.
