THE UNDERRIDING RISKS: DRIVER DROVE INTO THE BACK OF A
LARGE FRONT-END LOADER, PINNING THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER UNDER THE LOADER IN
HOLTON TOWNSHIP, MICHIGAN CRASH
January 22, 2015
HOLTON TOWNSHIP, MI – A serious traffic crash on Maple
Island Road Thursday, Jan. 22, that injured two individuals remained under
investigation this morning by the Michigan State Police.
According to authorities, the 6:53 p.m. crash occurred on
Maple Island just south of 60th Street in Holton Township. Police
say that a male driver was heading south on Maple Island when he apparently
drove into the back of a large front-end loader that was also heading south on
the same road.
The vehicle then slid under the rear of the loader, pinning
the driver and the passenger both in the vehicle. They had to be extricated
from the vehicle and were flown by Aero Med to Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids
for treatment of serious injuries, police said.
The driver of the front-end loader was not injured.
So far police are unsure whether speed was a factor in the
crash, but alcohol may have been, according to a press release from the
Michigan State Police.
"Lighting conditions along with the slow speed of the
front-end loader are believed to play a factor in this crash," as well,
the press release stated.
The names of those involved in the crash weren't initially
released by authorities. Family members are in the process of being notified,
police said.
Life EMS, Fremont Fire Department, Fremont Police Department
and the Newaygo County Sheriff's Department all assisted the troopers at the
scene.