Kevin Michael Declerck, 23, of Macomb Township was riding shotgun in his friend’s car when the driver lost control, flew off the road and crashed into a row of boulders on the front lawn of residential property near Mt. Vernon and 26 Mile Road, on the border of Shelby and Washington townships, around 2 a.m. Aug. 2.

The driver and two backseat passengers were able to escape the vehicle before it burst into flames. Once they realized Declerck was unconscious and still inside, the trio tried to pull him from the wreckage but had to retreat as the fire became too intense, said Macomb County Sheriff Mark Hackel.

Shelby Township fire and police personnel responded immediately, extinguished the fire and found Declerck deceased in the front passenger seat. The three surviving passengers — two from Macomb Township and one from Shelby — were transported to local hospitals, where they were treated for a variety of serious injuries, Hackel continued.

All four passengers were 23-year-old males.

“We don’t believe the driver was under the influence of alcohol; however, we are testing for the presence of other substances,” Hackel said.

Testing for narcotics or other substances is standard practice when investigating a fatal car accident. No citations have been issued, but Hackel said there is a “likelihood that charges will be forthcoming for the driver.”

The accident is still under investigation.

“The driver was apparently heading westbound on 26 Mile,” the sheriff explained. “According to his own statements, he was traveling at a very high rate of speed.”

Police reported that the vehicle was traveling so fast that the vehicle became airborne before crashing into the trees and flipping onto its side.

The collision sent a one-ton boulder from the residential landscaping rolling into a nearby wooded area, Hackel added.

Due to the height of flames from the car wreckage, trees in the vicinity were left charred. The home was not damaged, but Hackel said the landscaping is ruined.

No other vehicles were involved.

Source

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