Police: No Sign of Flat Tire in Bloomfield Township Man's Death on I-696

Authorities are still seeking witnesses to the horrific incident that killed Bloomfield Township resident Daniel Armitage, 41, during Thursday's morning rush hour. While investigators initially believed Armitage was changing a tire on his SUV before he was struck by multiple vehicles on westbound Interstate 696 in Farmington Hills, they are reportedly looking at other scenarios.

The tire Armitage was believed to working on had two lug nuts removed, but was not flat, Michigan State Police Trooper Paul Shunia told the Detroit Free Press.

Police believed Armitage was trying to change the tire on the shoulder of the westbound lanes at about 6:30 a.m., when he was struck by multiple vehicles. 

"He had pulled off onto the shoulder of the road," Michigan State Police Lt. Phil Meena of the Metro North Post told the Detroit News. "We found a tire and jack near the front wheel on the driver's side. He was struck by a car and then hit by several other vehicles."

According to Mena, one vehicle swerved to avoid the area and hit the freeway's retaining wall. One person had minor injuries and was taken to the hospital.

The incident closed the westbound lanes from Farmington Road to Telegraph Road for roughly six hours, with miles-long traffic backups as a result. The Oakland County Medical Examiner's office is expected to make a ruling in Armitage's death as early as today.

Meanwhile, investigators with the Bloomfield Township Police Department are looking into a report of domestic assault at Armitage's home. Department officials said they will not discuss the possible incident or the investigation until it is complete.

Armitage's wife is hospitalized in Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan State Police Trooper Paul Shunia told the Free Press, but no details were available. Armitage is survived by three young children.

Colleagues, strangers offer support

News of Armitage's death was a painful blow to the men and women he worked alongside in Ann Arbor, Fire Chief Chuck Hubbard said.

"Our department is shocked and deeply saddened by the news of Dan’s tragic death," Hubbard said in a prepared statement. "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."

Armitage, a 1989 graduate of Birmingham , joined the department in 1995 and was a ladder-truck driver stationed on Ann Arbor's south side.

Community reacts

The incident spurred several comments to news reports and on social media.

• "During my last weeks at Ann Arbor, I went to station 6 and had dinner where I spent sometime speaking one on one with Dan," former Ann Arbor Fire Chief Dominick Lanza wrote on AnnArbor.com. "He glowed when he spoke of his family and took me to his locker to show me their photos. He said '"Chief this is what I live for I love my family" they are my world. It was an honor to know Dan and work with him, I am truely saddened to read of his passing may he rest in peace and may god look over his family."
• "As a community may we all embrace this family in our thoughts and prayers," Anne Bloedow Stafford wrote on the Bloomfield Patch Facebook page.
• "#RIP Daniel E. Armitage. Thanks for keeping people safe." @catepelley wrote on Twitter.
• "Rip Daniel Armitage... Such a tragic story that reminds you to live life to the fullest and remember how blessed you are to live everyday," @ccCanter87 tweeted.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call the Michigan State Police at 248-584-5740.