An Allegan County incident has left several people injured after an SUV crashed into a hayride on Saturday evening. Angelina Hamberg, 44, of Allegan has been charged with operating while intoxicated causing serious injury, following the crash that occurred at the intersection of M-40 and 110th Avenue in Trowbridge Township. WZZM 13 reported that the collision happened around 7:45 p.m., involving Hamberg's Honda Pilot SUV and a tractor pulling a hay wagon.
The aftermath saw a hay trailer turned on its side and debris scattered across the roadway while Hamberg's blood alcohol level was found to be at 0.129, according to the Allegan County Sheriff's Office, "The tractor itself had lights on it," Capt. John Paul Damveld said, noting the hay wagon's lack of lights but the presence of a large, slow-moving reflective orange triangle intended to signal its presence to other drivers, WWMT reported, as shared by Hoodline. In total, three people were injured from the hayride while two from the SUV sustained injuries, all of which were declared non-life-threatening by authorities.
Hamberg is also facing being a third-time habitual offender, which includes previous convictions for check fraud and failing to pay child support. Court documents detailed by WOODTV reveal that she was initially deceptive about her role in the incident, first claiming she was a passenger before admitting to driving the SUV, Hamberg had also indicated a vehicle malfunction, stating that the brakes failed, though this claim appears to have been refuted by the preliminary breath test results. Her past driving record includes violations such as driving without proof of insurance and suspensions.
Despite a request for low bond by her attorney, citing the absence of serious previous driving violations and the need to maintain her employment, Magistrate Daniel Norbeck set bond at $5,000 based on her habitual offender status and while the SUV was going 55 mph, it collided with the tractor which was making a turn from southbound M-40 onto 110th at about 3 mph according to a WOODTV report. Hamberg is expected back in court for hearings on Oct. 24 and Oct. 29, where she will face charges that could result in up to five-year felonies for each count.
