WHITEFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Paul M. DeVito, 38, of Plantation, Florida, died Monday afternoon following a collision involving an SUV and a semi-truck on northbound U.S. 23 in Whiteford Township, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
Emergency responders were dispatched to the scene at approximately 1:19 p.m. on June 29, 2026, near the U.S. 223 interchange after receiving reports of a serious traffic crash.
According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Services Division, DeVito was driving a white 2021 Toyota RAV4 in the right northbound lane when, for reasons that remain under investigation, the SUV struck the rear of a trailer being pulled by a white 2024 Volvo semi-tractor.
The semi-truck was operated by Herney D. Pena-Fajardo, 43, of Lenox, Massachusetts.
Investigators said the impact caused the Toyota RAV4 to rotate multiple times, during which DeVito was ejected from the vehicle. Both the SUV and DeVito came to rest in a ditch along the east side of the highway. The semi-truck remained under control, and its driver safely brought the vehicle to a stop in the right travel lane.
DeVito sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Authorities reported that traffic was already heavily congested because of a lane closure north of the crash site at the time of the collision. Investigators confirmed that both drivers were wearing seat belts, the Toyota’s airbags deployed, and alcohol is not believed to have been a contributing factor.
Multiple agencies responded to the incident, including local fire departments, Monroe Community Ambulance, the Michigan State Police Motor Carrier Division, the Michigan Department of Transportation, and units from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, which assisted with emergency response, traffic management, and the investigation.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Services Division continues to investigate the circumstances that led to the crash. No additional information has been released.