Oxford man dies, another in critical condition, following crash on M-59

ROCHESTER HILLS — A 57-year-old man from Oxford has died and another is in critical condition from injuries sustained during a three-vehicle crash on M-59 in Rochester Hills Sept. 11.

The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office said Lee James Hershman was driving a 2008 Ford Taurus eastbound on M-59 between John R Road and Dequindre Road at approximately 5:35 a.m. when his vehicle was struck by a 2006 GMC Sierra pickup truck.

Investigators from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit said the truck was traveling westbound on M-59 when the driver lost control of his vehicle, crossed the median through an “Authorized Vehicles Only” crossing and struck Hershman’s car and then the guardrails on both sides of M-59. The crash also involved a third vehicle, a 2020 Buick Envision driven by a 58-year-old woman from Pontiac who was not injured.

After striking the two vehicles, deputies say, the pickup truck continued across eastbound M-59, struck the right-side guardrail and came to rest off of the roadway.

Hershman, who was wearing a seat belt, was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly before midnight.

The pickup truck driver, a 25-year-old man from Brandon Township, was listed in critical condition at press time.

The Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit is continuing to investigate.

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash should call the Sheriff’s Office at (248) 858-4950.