Karl L. Shaw

Vehic/Purs

According to police, Karl L. Shaw and Latora Thornton left the Speedway station in Mattawan shortly before 1 a.m. after they were involved in a disturbance there, and clerks told them they'd called police. Thornton drove toward the on-ramp to westbound I-94, which an officer was blocking because of a tractor trailer fire on the freeway. The officer, who police said had his patrol car's emergency lights on, yelled and signaled to stop, but Thornton reportedly drove around him and off the roadway before continuing onto the interstate, police said. Thornton's 2007 Chevrolet coupe went a short distance before crashing into the back of a Freightliner semi truck. Shaw died at the scene.