UPDATE: 1 Dead, 1 Injured After Semi Truck Hits Kroger at Harper, 8 Mile

The driver of a semitruck died and at least one person was injured after a tractor-trailer rig was struck by another vehicle, lost control and drove into the Kroger at Harper Avenue and 8 Mile Road shortly before 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

The truck crashed through the back wall of the recently remodeled store into what appeared to be a dock loading/storage area. 

The truck went up the embankment on eastbound I-94 and crashed into the store. At least two other sedans parked in lanes on I-94 East were also damaged.

Harper Woods Police and fire officials confirmed Saturday night that the driver died and another person was injured in the accident. In a press release, police also said the driver lost control of the rig after being struck by another motorist. 

Police closed eastbound I-94 for several hours and a tow truck began moving the rig shortly after 8 p.m. A state trooper used spray paint to mark locations as it was being moved to aid in the investigation that will follow.  

The crash collapsed part of the roof of the store.

Noelene Brennan, who is visiting family in Grosse Pointe Woods from Australia, was inside the store at the time of the crash. She said at least 50 customers were inside and everyone heard a loud booming noise that caused them to stop and look in the direction of the noise. One man was lying on the floor yelling that he needed help and had been hurt, she said.

Within seconds ear-piercing sirens began sounding and a woman nearby Brennan began screaming to everyone to get out of the store, Brennan said. An automated voice also came on the loudspeaker system telling everyone to leave their goods behind and evacuate the store, she said.

Smoke began billowing into the store before everyone evacuated and as Brennan was leaving, speeding police vehicles began arriving. One police officer ran into the building, Brennan said. 

St. Clair Shores Patch reader Diane West said she was inside the store at the time of the accident. She described it this way on the Patch Facebook page: "There was a big boom, and then the fire alarms went off and the store was evacuated. People were running every which way.... some out, some to the back to help answer the cries."

Emergency workers from the Grosse Pointes, including the Park, St. Clair Shores, Harper Woods and Michigan State troopers were on the scene. 

Linda Perry, of Harrison Township, was babysitting her grandchildren on Ridgemont in Harper Woods while her son and daughter-in-law were out for a date night. Their home is a few houses in from the Harper Avenue service drive leading to Vernier Road. 

"It sounded like thunder at first," Perry said. Within seconds a loud boom erupted and the cab of the rig ignited in flames, she said. Heavy black smoke rolled through the area. She said it was so dark you couldn't see from the sidewalk to the street. It took about 45 minutes to an hour to clear, she said.

Dozens of pink objects about the size of a tennis ball canister rolled out of the trailer as the tow truck moved it away from the cab and building. The objects were unidentifiable to likely any onlooker, of which there were dozens if not hundreds. 

Harper Woods police used their bullhorn and sirens for crowd control and to keep traffic flowing on the service drive and area streets. The parking lot of Kroger was also blocked off with police vehicles, yellow tape and shopping carts turned on their sides.

Follow Patch for continued updates on this story.