Dentist — a father of 5 — dies in crash driving home from work, Michigan family says

A beloved dentist died after he was rear-ended in a crash while driving home from work, according to his Michigan family and colleagues.

Newman Family Dental Center said Dr. Chris Clifford died Monday, Sept. 25, after leaving the Dearborn office. His wife, Lindsey Clifford, said he was rear-ended while at a stop light.

Family members told WJBK the 41-year-old then “suffered a medical episode.”

“Paramedics performed CPR at the scene and continued at the hospital, but there was nothing they could do,” Lindsey Clifford said in a Facebook post.

Chris Clifford, a father of 5, joined Newman Family Dental Center in March. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry and practiced dentistry for more than 13 years, his office said.

The office called him “a truly kind person” who was “an incredible father, husband and leader.”

His wife echoed those sentiments, saying he was an “amazing dad and husband.” Chris and Lindsey Clifford were high school sweethearts and got married when they were 20, WJBK reported.

“We had plans to stay here and grow old together and have grandbabies,” she told the station. “We were just talking about this a few weeks ago.”

A funeral will be held Sept. 30, according to organizers of a GoFundMe, which described Clifford as “a man who cherished his family with unwavering love.”

Dearborn is a suburb of Detroit.

This story was originally published September 27, 2023 at 10:13 AM with the headline "Dentist — a father of 5 — dies in crash driving home from work, Michigan family says."