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Posted on Wed, Apr 3, 2013 : 10:43 a.m.

1 dead near Milan in second fatal crash in Washtenaw County Wednesday

By John Counts

040313_milan_23_crash_CS -1.jpg

One person died in this accident near Milan Wednesday morning.

Courtney Sacco | AnnArbor.com

One person died after an accident on northbound U.S. 23 near the Carpenter Road exit just outside of Milan Wednesday morning, a Huron Valley Ambulance spokeswoman said.

“The person was under the car,” said Joyce Williams, a spokeswoman for Huron Valley Ambulance.

Emergency responders were called to the expressway at 10:07 a.m. Wednesday. Southbound U.S. 23 was closed near the crash site, a dispatcher with the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office said.

Sgt. Mark Thompson of the Michigan State Police said the vehicle was headed north when the driver lost control and ended up in the southbound lane. Police characterized it as a rollover accident.

At 12:10 p.m., both the northbound and southbound lanes of U.S. 23 were closed as investigators took measurements.

Both north and southbound lanes on U.S. 23 were reopened around 12:30 p.m., according to Washtenaw County dispatch.

It was the second fatal accident of the morning in Washtenaw County. A 38-year-old man died in a crash on Whittaker in Ypsilanti Township a few hours earlier.


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John Counts covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at johncounts@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.

Comments

Sam S Smith

Wed, Apr 3, 2013 : 10:22 p.m.

Special thoughts and prayers for the driver, her/his family and friends!

Nicholas Urfe

Wed, Apr 3, 2013 : 6:58 p.m.

Seems like the past month has had a huge spike in fatal car crashes, and shootings in the area.

DitchDoctor

Wed, Apr 3, 2013 : 6:27 p.m.

You do know that's their body lying under that sheet!! Take the dang photo down and show some class!! Unbelievable!!

jcj

Wed, Apr 3, 2013 : 5:41 p.m.

Is it really that hard for a2.com to track how many fatal accidents have happened on area freeways the last couple years? Apparently!

Cindy Heflin

Thu, Apr 4, 2013 : 12:49 a.m.

jcj: Here's an article we did on this subject: http://www.annarbor.com/news/number-of-crashes-up-in-washtenaw-county-in-2012-fatalities-down/

Simon Green

Wed, Apr 3, 2013 : 8:24 p.m.

@ tom swift jr., I think what jcj is asking for would fall under the broad description of "journalism"... so maybe your recommendation should be for A2.com.

tom swift jr.

Wed, Apr 3, 2013 : 6:39 p.m.

What makes you think it is the newspaper's job to do that? Check with the local law enforcement agencies, they probably keep those records.

chapmaja

Wed, Apr 3, 2013 : 5:38 p.m.

There could be any number of reasons the vehicle crossed the median and entered the SB lanes. Obviously the first that comes to mind is texting, but there are other possibilities. Last summer there was a fatal multiple car wreck near Howell caused when a driver had a major medical event and crossed the road hitting traffic going the opposite direction head on. Last week Livingston County had a man killed when he had a heart attack. The picture, which I agree is mis-timed with its release, does make me wonder if it the article is accurate. It states "Police characterized it as a rollover accident." I don't think this was a complete roll-over accident as there appears to be no damage to the top of the vehicle. Having been in a rollover, a real rollover has damage to the top of the vehicle. I suspect what police are calling a rollover was actually the car landing on its drivers side. The driver,who I would suspect wasn't wearing a seatbelt was likely partially thrown from the vehicle and was crushed between the drivers side of the car and the ground during the accident.

DBH

Wed, Apr 3, 2013 : 8:30 p.m.

Should be "Rollovers are characterized by the number of quarter turns OF the vehicle, ..."

DBH

Wed, Apr 3, 2013 : 5:56 p.m.

My condolences to the family and friends of this victim. Stories like these always make me sad. Rollovers are characterized by the number or quarter turns of the vehicle, so a vehicle turning over and landing on its side (a 90 degree change in its orientation) can be a rollover accident without having rotated 180, 270 or 360 degrees. Also, occupants may be ejected from the vehicle even if wearing seatbelts, though the wearing of them reduces the likelihood of ejection. See http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/809-692.pdf .

linuxtuxguy

Wed, Apr 3, 2013 : 4:58 p.m.

I'm confused; the article states that it was 'an accident on northbound U.S. 23 near the Carpenter Road exit' But then it says that the car 'ended up in the southbound lane.' So isn't this technically an accident on Southbound U.S. 23?

Ricardo Queso

Wed, Apr 3, 2013 : 5:15 p.m.

No, it started when the car left the northbound lane. Seatbelts and texting do come to mind.

Cash

Wed, Apr 3, 2013 : 4:48 p.m.

I don't like that area of US 23....that curve and exit/entrance ramps....not engineered well, it always seemed to me. Actually US23 in general is hideous. Regardless, my heart goes out to the family of the person who died. Heartbreaking.

Cash

Wed, Apr 3, 2013 : 6:15 p.m.

I'm with you on that one, Ann. I have driven "around" US23 many times rather than use it. But we hear no mention of improving US23 or it's ramps. It's seems that improving what is arguably the worst highway in the county, is ignored. Until something improves, I guess we have to avoid it as much as we can.

Ann Dwyer

Wed, Apr 3, 2013 : 5:04 p.m.

Living on North T., I try to avoid 23 at all costs even though it's the closest highway for certain destinations.

Simon Green

Wed, Apr 3, 2013 : 4:41 p.m.

Is it just my imagination or have there been a rash of serious, most of them fatal crashes, reported within Wash. Co. the past 3-4 months? I don't remember them being so prevalent, unless there has been a greater emphasis on reporting them. Troubling...

Cindy Heflin

Thu, Apr 4, 2013 : 1:14 a.m.

I posted this link in the thread below, but here's an article on this subject: http://www.annarbor.com/news/number-of-crashes-up-in-washtenaw-county-in-2012-fatalities-down/

jcj

Wed, Apr 3, 2013 : 5:40 p.m.

Don't expect any definitive answers.I have been asking for months how many have taken place the last couple years.

C

Wed, Apr 3, 2013 : 5:10 p.m.

I agree. Very troubling indeed. The updates I see in my Facebook feed give me a horrible feeling in my stomach!

seldon

Wed, Apr 3, 2013 : 5:09 p.m.

That's my impression too. I'd be interested to know whether they're more common or just better reported.

Number7

Wed, Apr 3, 2013 : 4:11 p.m.

Can't the photos wait until the names are released?

WalkingJoe

Wed, Apr 3, 2013 : 4:15 p.m.

Got to agree with this. Could cause anyone knowing a relative with a similar car a lot of anxiety.

John Counts

Wed, Apr 3, 2013 : 2:58 p.m.

Police are still at the scene investigating. There hasn't been any information released about seat belt use.

GoNavy

Wed, Apr 3, 2013 : 5:23 p.m.

Whoa - this sounds like seat belt speculation. Other mentions of "seat belts" have been moderated. Why mention seat belts specifically?