Intersection Accidents on Van Dyke Avenue [Macomb County]

Van Dyke Avenue is one of the busiest roads in Macomb County, carrying heavy commuter, commercial, and local traffic every day. It is also one of the county’s most crash-prone corridors, and 2024 Michigan State Police data shows where crashes occur most often.

What the data shows.

According to 2024 Michigan State Police crash data compiled by Michigan Auto Law using figures provided by the Michigan State Police Traffic Crash Reporting Unit, two of the five most dangerous intersections in all of Macomb County in 2024 are located on Van Dyke Avenue.

The intersection of 11 Mile Road and I-696 at Van Dyke Avenue in Warren recorded 185 total crashes and 26 injuries in 2024 — making it not only the most dangerous intersection in Macomb County, but the most dangerous intersection in the entire state of Michigan for the fourth consecutive year. The roundabout at 18½ Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue in Sterling Heights ranked second in Macomb County with 162 total crashes and 12 injuries — a 20 percent increase from 135 crashes in 2023, according to the same source.

Metropolitan Parkway at Van Dyke Avenue in Sterling Heights has also appeared on the county’s most dangerous intersection list in prior years, with 70 total crashes, one fatality, and 16 injuries recorded in 2023.

Why Van Dyke produces so many crashes.

Van Dyke Avenue runs roughly 30 miles north-south through the heart of Macomb County, from Detroit’s east side through Eastpointe, Warren, Center Line, Sterling Heights, Utica, and beyond. Along its length it passes through densely commercial stretches, residential neighborhoods, and major freeway interchanges — each of which creates its own set of crash conditions.

The 11 Mile Road and I-696 interchange is one of the corridor’s most complex locations. Freeway traffic, surface traffic, and vehicles entering and exiting ramps converge there throughout the day. Left turns across multiple lanes, merging traffic, and the sheer number of vehicles traveling through the intersection create conditions where crashes can occur.

The 18½ Mile Road roundabout in Sterling Heights, while designed to reduce the most severe angle crashes, has seen increasing crash totals over the past two years. Roundabouts require drivers to yield and merge in ways that are unfamiliar to many, and the 20 percent increase in crashes at this location from 2023 to 2024 suggests that familiarity with the intersection’s design has not fully translated into safer driving behavior. Although roundabouts are designed to reduce the severity of certain crashes, drivers must still slow down, yield appropriately, and stay alert to surrounding traffic.

What this means if you were in a crash on Van Dyke.

Even when a crash occurs at an intersection known for frequent collisions, liability depends on the specific facts of the crash. An attorney can evaluate the police report, traffic laws, and other available evidence to determine what claims may be available.

Michigan’s no-fault system provides PIP benefits for medical expenses and wage loss regardless of fault. Whether additional claims against an at-fault driver may be available depends on the severity of the injuries and the specific circumstances of the crash. If you were in a crash on Van Dyke Avenue or anywhere in Macomb County, our team may be able to help. To speak with a Michigan personal injury attorney, contact us today.

Source: michigan.gov