57-year-old runner dies after collapsing during Detroit Free Press Marathon

DETROIT (WWJ) A 57-year-old man died after collapsing while running in the Detroit Free Press Marathon on Sunday morning, race officials said.

Officials said the runner collapsed on the Windsor side around Mile 5. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was treated and passed away.

His identity has not been released.

"This is obviously a terrible tragedy for this person's family and friends. Right now, our thoughts are with them. We're giving them time to be notified and to notify others before we release any more information," Race Director Aaron Velthoven said during a live interview on WWJ.

Officials do not know what caused his death. Velthoven told WWJ's Kyle Kimball the man collapsed a "a handful of blocks" from a hospital.

"The support was there, we were prepared," Velthoven said. "...We've got a lot of medical support in and around the course, a number of aid stations, course monitors to monitor the runners as they go by. When the runner did go down, our support staff went into action."

Velthoven said, prior to 2024, no one has died running the Detroit Free Press Marathon in "over ten years."

The Marathon spans three days and draws over 26,000 participants. Known for its international route that crosses the U.S. Canadian border; it's North America’s largest international marathon event.

This is a developing story. Keep it tuned to WWJ Newsradio 950 on air, online and on Audacy app for the latest information.