KALAMAZOO, MI --The chief of Comstock Township's Fire and Rescue team was killed when a car went out of control Wednesday night and struck him during a emergency stop on I-94, police say.

Edward Switalski, 55, was on foot among fire personnel and Kalamazoo County Sheriff's deputies as they responded to a 9:30 p.m. report of a car crash on the interstate highway when the mishap occurred, deputies said.

Deputies and Comstock Fire and Rescue personnel responded to a report of an accident in the eastbound I-94 near the 81 mile marker, deputies reported in a press release.

"Upon arrival it was determined that the vehicle involved was unoccupied and no injuries were being reported," according to a news release from the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office.

"As fire responders were preparing to leave the scene, a passing vehicle lost control and struck Chief Edward Switalski of Comstock Fire and Rescue as he stood near the rear of his rescue vehicle," the news released continued. "Several responders on scene provided immediate care. However resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful. Chief Switalski was pronounced dead at the scene."

The driver of the at-fault vehicle was transported to Borgess Medical center for treatment of injuries sustained in the incident. Deputies said they are working to learn what caused the crash.

Switalski joined the Comstock firefighters in June of 2013 after working for more than 34 years with the Pleasantview Fire District in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. At the time, he relocated to West Michigan in order to be near his youngest daughter, who had enrolled at Western Michigan University.