Man dies after being hit by vehicle while running along Willow Road

At about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 22, Sumpter Township Police were dispatched to the 46000 block of Willow Road on a report of a vehicle vs. pedestrian traffic crash.
Sumpter Police Chief Eric Luke said when police arrived they found Joseph Venable, 23, of Sumpter Township lying just off the roadway. He was pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel.
Preliminary reports indicate that Venable was running down the roadway in the westbound lane when he was struck by the second of three vehicles traveling westbound after the first vehicle was forced to swerve to miss him.
Chief Luke said it is believed that alcohol use by Venable played a major role in the incident. Chief Luke sent out heartfelt condolences to the victim’s family during this difficult time.
The vehicle driver, a 56-year old Augusta Township resident, stopped immediately and is cooperating fully with the investigation, Chief Luke said.
The Sumpter Township Police Department was assisted on the scene by members of the Michigan State Police downriver traffic crash reconstruction unit.
The investigation is ongoing and no further information is available for released at this time.