Christopher Zoladz, Gannett Michigan

FRUITPORT TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A man trying to drag a dead deer from I-96 was struck by another driver Wednesday morning.

The crash happened around 7:40 a.m. in the westbound lanes near Sternberg Road.

Police believe the 50-year-old man struck the deer and stopped to remove it from the highway so other drivers wouldn't run over it. He was then hit by a vehicle driven by an 80-year-old Muskegon County man.

Police found another deer at the edge of the road in the same location; they say removing an obstruction from the road is always dangerous, even for emergency workers.

"It is a judgment call, I guess. When there is traffic it is dangerous to step out into traffic, even with these reflective vests it is dangerous," said Lt. Bruce Morningstar of the Fruitport Township police. "With the high speeds and the darkness at the time this happened, it would make it very difficult for somebody to see somebody that stepped out to do a good deed."

The victim was taken to Hackley Hospital and later airlifted via AeroMed to Grand Rapids. The extent of his injuries are not known.