Eastern Michigan Commit Elijah Berman Dies in Crash

Elijah Berman, a 17-year-old Eastern Michigan football commit and standout defensive lineman from Dayton, Ohio, died on Tuesday after his motorcycle was struck at an intersection in Franklin, Ohio, by a semitruck exiting northbound I-75; the truck then hit a median and overturned. Berman was transported to Atrium Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries, while the truck driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Berman had just committed to Eastern Michigan's 2026 recruiting class on June 16 and was also a member of his high school's football and track teams, as well as an Eagle Ambassador and participant in the Little Sibs program. His death has deeply impacted both his high school and the Eastern Michigan football community, with coaches, school administrators, and his mother expressing shock and condolences. The Ohio State Highway Patrol is still investigating the incident. A community prayer service has been organized to honor Berman's memory.