Troy man killed while assisting motorist on rain-soaked I-696 - Fox 2 News Headlines

By Maurielle Lue
FOX 2 News Detroit

WARREN, Mich. -- It was an act of kindness extended to someone in need, but now a good Samaritan is dead after being hit and killed trying to help a driver on the expressway.

"He was a great person.  He would've helped anybody.  The kids loved him.  He was always fun.  He always made time for anybody who needed help," FOX 2 was told.

Helping a stranger was the last thing George Danis would ever do.  He pulled over to help a woman blocking the left lane of I-696.  She had crashed into the median during a single car accident.  Police say she was speeding.

"When it starts raining and the roads become slick at that very first half hour or so, a lot of people aren't adjusting their speeds, and what happens is you end up losing control on the freeway, which is kind of what happened to her," said Michigan State Police Lieutenant Michael Shaw.

Danis was talking to the female driver when another car slammed into them both.  He was thrown several feet and pinned underneath his own car.  He died on the scene.

Danis is now the second good Samaritan to be killed in a week.  Police are now urging other do-gooders to find another way to help.

"If you're a good Samaritan and you're driving past, it is very difficult to go past and not help, but you have to understand that when you get out of that vehicle, when somebody's moving 70, 75 miles an hour and you're standing there and they don't see you, usually by the time you can react it's too late," Shaw said.

Michigan State Police are now telling drivers if they are involved in a crash on the freeway to move their car to the shoulder.  If you can't move your car, put on your seat belt and call police.  Good Samaritans should keep driving and call 911.

Donations for George Danis' funeral expenses can be made at any Credit Union ONE branch location under Marci Danis.