A three-vehicle traffic crash occurred at the intersection of M-55 and Stronach Road on Friday afternoon. Several people were injured.
UPDATE: On May 12, 2023, The Manistee County Sheriff’s Office shared an update on the previous crash that took place on April 30, 2023.
UPDATE: Maniste County Sheriff Brian Gutowski provided an update at 2:46 p.m. today about the planned road closure.
“Due to weather, we will not be closing M-55 today as previously announced. Instead, we will be closing M-55 at Stronach Road” from 4-6 p.m. on April 30, he said.
MANISTEE COUNTY — A serious traffic crash that occurred on Friday will impact traffic this afternoon in Stronach Township.
Manistee County Sheriff Brian Gutowski reported via email that M-55 at Stronach Road will be closed today from 3-5 p.m. for additional investigation after a three-vehicle crash occurred on Friday.
“We are encouraging people to avoid the area if possible,” he said in the email.
At about 4:21 p.m. on April 28, Manistee County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the intersection of M-55 and Stronach Road in Stronach Township for the crash.
A 2010 Chrysler Town & Country driven by a 39-year-old Harrietta woman was traveling westbound on M-55 when it attempted to turn south on Stronach Road, Gutowski said in a news release on Saturday afternoon. The Harietta woman “failed to yield to a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox driven by a 93-year-old Newaygo man along with a 92-year-old female, which was traveling eastbound on M-55 and they collided head on.”
The Harietta woman had her three children in the vehicle, ages 7, 5 and 4.
“Following the initial head-on crash, the 2018 Equinox then struck a 2002 Chevrolet Suburban driven by a 62-year-old Irons man along with his son (age 14) which was stopped at the stop sign at M-55 and Stronach Road,” Gutowski continued.
He said the occupants of the Town & Country were all transported to Munson Healthcare Manistee Hospital for treatment. The 7-year-old passenger was then transferred via helicopter to DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids.
The couple in the Equinox were extricated from the vehicle by Stronach Township Fire Department. The driver of that vehicle was transported to the Manistee hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, reports Gutowski. The passenger of the vehicle was flown from the Manistee hospital to Munson Medical Center in Traverse City with life-threatening injuries.
“The driver and passenger of the 2002 Suburban were treated at the scene and released,” said Gutowski.
The Manistee County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Department of Public Safety, the Mason County Sheriff’s Office, Stronach Township Fire, Norman Township Fire, MMR EMS and Manistee County Central Dispatch.
I am a Central Michigan University graduate, originally from West Branch, Michigan. I enjoy a good book, spending time with my family, playing with my dog and walking the shores of Lake Michigan. I have won several Michigan Press Association awards for writing and photography.
Manistee sheriff's office investigating serious traffic crash – Manistee News Advocate
