Portion Of I-94 To Be Named After Fallen Fire Chief In New Bill

Legislation introduced this week in the Michigan Senate would officially rename a portion of I-94 in Kalamazoo County after fallen Comstock Fire Chief Ed Switalski.

On Thursday, Senator Margaret O’Brien of Portage introduced the bill, which would name 6 miles of I-94 between Sprinkle Rd. and Galesburg in honor of Switalski. In a release to her website, Sen. O’Brien says that renaming the highway will not only honor Chief Switalski’s contributions to the community, but it will also serve as a reminder to motorists to drive safe.

Switalski was killed June 15, as he was standing on the side of the road while responding to a crash on I-94; a motorist sped past a fire engine with its lights on to strike Switalski from behind, leaving him dead.

The driver, 24-year-old Brandon Clevenger of Battle Creek, is awaiting trial on a charge of reckless driving causing death.