An 88-year-old St. Louis man died and three other people were seriously hurt in a two-vehicle crash in Pine River Township last Thursday. The Gratiot County Sheriff's Office said deputies were called shortly after 4 p.m. to the intersection of North State Road and Jackson Road, where multiple emergency crews converged on the wreck. One passenger later died at a local hospital and three others were hospitalized with serious injuries.
According to MLive, a 36-year-old woman driving a Chevrolet Equinox attempted a U-turn at the intersection when a 2011 GMC Terrain driven by a 53-year-old woman hit the Equinox on its side. The 88-year-old man was riding in the GMC and was taken to MyMichigan Medical Center in Alma, where he was later pronounced dead, the outlet reported.
What investigators say
Investigators told WNEM that the severity of the crash appeared to be linked to an improper turn and a lack of seatbelt use. Three other people suffered serious injuries, the station reported. The sheriff’s office is withholding the names of those involved until families can be notified and says the investigation remains active as deputies sort through the details of what happened at the rural intersection.
Multiple agencies responded
The Gratiot County Sheriff’s Office said several agencies assisted at the scene, including the Michigan State Police, local fire and rescue crews, county towing companies and dispatch units, according to MLive. Officials have not released additional information about the identities or updated conditions of those involved.
Safety reminder
Rural crossroads and last-minute U-turns can be especially unforgiving, and investigators often point to seatbelts as the difference between a survivable crash and a fatal one. The Michigan State Police notes that Michigan has a primary seat belt law and runs periodic "Click It or Ticket" enforcement efforts to boost compliance and reduce traffic deaths, according to the Michigan State Police.
