Photo provided by Michigan State Police The Holiday gas station in L’Anse is seen in the aftermath of a fatal semitruck crash that also started a severe fire.

L’ANSE — One person was killed and another was taken to the hospital after a semi-truck crash at the Holiday gas station in L’Anse that sparked an extensive structure fire Thursday night.

The driver of the truck, a 22-year-old from Illinois, was arrested at the scene for operating while intoxicated causing death, the Michigan State Police Calumet Post said in a release. The charge is a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison. If the person’s blood-alcohol level is above 0.17 and they have had a previous conviction within seven years, it could be up to 20.

Shortly before 11:10 p.m., the semitruck and trailer struck the gas pumps, which fatally wounded a 43-year-old Baraga man who was outside filling his vehicle. The station and surrounding vehicles also caught fire, suffering extensive damage. 

U.S. 41 was shut down for several hours during the fire and crash investigation. Michigan State Police accident investigators and Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division (CVED) investigators are assisting in the decision. 

The Baraga man was transported to Baraga County Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A Holiday employee was also transported to BCMH for treatment of his injuries. Another store patron was uninjured, as was a trainee who was a passenger in the semitruck.

The incident remains under investigation.

Troopers were assisted by Baraga County Sheriff’s Department, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Tribal Police, Baraga Village Police and L’Anse Police Department. Several local fire departments responded, including L’Anse Fire Department, Baraga Fire Department, Houghton Fire Department, Arvon Fire Department, Aura Fire Department, Pelkie Fire Department and Bay Ambulance Service.