5 killed in head-on crash on US-23 in Green Oak Township
This Chevy Blazer was struck head-on by a Toyota Prius that crossed the median on US-23. Photo by Kyle Mulka via Twitpic
Investigators are still piecing together what led to the high-speed crash when a Toyota Prius heading northbound on US-23 crossed the median into southbound traffic south of Lee Road at 3:29 p.m.
Green Oak Township Deputy Fire Chief Kevin Gentry said the Prius — which had four young adults inside — slammed into a southbound Chevy Blazer. The SUV was carrying two adults and three small children, he said.
The Prius flipped and rolled over due to the impact of the crash, Gentry said. The Blazer was smoking, and a fire extinguisher was used, he said.
UPDATES
When emergency personnel arrived, three people were on the ground, although it's not entirely clear whether they were pulled from the wreckage by witnesses or were ejected, Gentry said.
Jaws of Life equipment was used to free victims trapped in this Toyota Prius after it crossed the median on US-23 and slammed head-on into a Chevy Blazer.
Photo by Kyle Mulka via Twitpic
The remaining occupants in the vehicles were trapped, and firefighters used Jaws of Life equipment to get them out.
Three people were pronounced dead at the scene, Gentry said. The other six were taken to the University of Michigan Medical Center, using two helicopters and ambulances.
Two others have since been pronounced dead at the hospital, Gentry said. The four survivors have "very significant" injuries, Gentry said.
The identities of those killed and their ages and hometowns have not been released. Gentry said the Blazer had an Ohio license plate and the Prius had a Michigan plate.
Police conducted a complete reconstruction of the scene, and the freeway was closed in both directions for several hours. It reopened shortly before 8 p.m.
Gentry said the median on that stretch of US-23 is about 15 yards, and the expressway doesn't have any curves there.
Green Oak Township police officials said this evening that they expect to issue a press release later, but are not currently releasing any further details.
Comments
Julius
Tue, Oct 12, 2010 : 1:19 p.m.
Without specifying, I know what needs to happen on my end at higher speeds. I know I need more space. I know I can't brake and turn at the same time. I know how to gauge the situation and decide when to make changes based on what's happening around me. There are times when driving that stretch in which it is physically impossible to exceed 50 mph. There are also times where traffic is sparse. It's up to each individual driver to know the situation and be ready to respond. The other examples involve taking your attention off of what you're doing. That's way more dangerous than traveling a few ticks above an arbitrary number on a sign.
Peregrine
Mon, Oct 11, 2010 : 6:07 p.m.
"When I drive faster, I'm more focused. I'm not texting, talking on the phone, trying to eat a big mac..." And yet many drivers believe that they can text while driving or talk on the phone while driving without diminishing their safety or "control". Yet the data is pretty clear that they're wrong. Wouldn't you say that such drivers are a bit over-confident, maybe arrogant, perhaps a bit deluded? "There is a limit to it, and I know what it is. I know what my car will do at or near this limit." They know, but they're self-deluded. But you know.... Furthermore when sharing the highway with others, let's be clear -- no one is in control. Other drivers make errors. You make errors, whether you'll admit it or not. Their cars may not be well-maintained. Your car may have a mechanical issue that you're not aware of. You are imperfect, your knowledge is limited, and you are not in control. And with that foundation, now factor speed into the equation.
Julius
Mon, Oct 11, 2010 : 3:13 p.m.
"Driving fast and driving out of control are directly related." And skill, experience, and technique have nothing to do with it? You can drive fast in control and you can drive out of control while staying under the speed limit. When I drive faster, I'm more focused. I'm not texting, talking on the phone, trying to eat a big mac or screwing with other drivers because I think it's up to me to get them to slow down. There is a limit to it, and I know what it is. I know what my car will do at or near this limit.
Peregrine
Mon, Oct 11, 2010 : 2:39 p.m.
Driving fast and driving out of control are directly related. The faster you drive the more momentum you have the more difficult to change your direction or speed. The faster you go the less time you have to react and take corrective action. The faster you go the more likely your vehicle is to roll or have wheels lose grip on the road when you do attempt to take corrective action. At that point you may lose all control and then it's just up to physics. The faster you drive the more energy your moving car has, and the more energy that has to be dissipated in people's bodies, your vehicle, other vehicles, the people's bodies in those other vehicles, the ground and structures and so forth in the event of an accident. Energy goes up by the square of the speed. You go twice as fast your energy goes up by a factor of four. If you go 80mph instead of 70mph, a 14% increase in your speed, the energy goes up by 31%.
fxdwgi
Mon, Oct 11, 2010 : 11:24 a.m.
First of all, my respects to all that were involved and that includes the witnesses. I drive this everyday (from north of Flint to AA), and the highway needs a few things that some people have already commented on; 1. 6 lanes with a barrier system 2. More POLICE!!! 3. On/Off ramps need major reconstruction 4. 96 & 23 interchange completely reconfigured All of these take a lot of $$$ and time with the exception of more police.
ladydriver5
Mon, Oct 11, 2010 : 10:36 a.m.
People, the speed limit is 70 miles per hour. It's the law for a reason. Anyone who has been in a car wreck can relate to this tragic event. My prays to the families.
tlb1201
Mon, Oct 11, 2010 : 9:53 a.m.
Barriers might be a good thing where the median is narrower. Increased police patrols from Ann Arbor to Brighton would be even better. Speeders and improper lane usage create danagerous situations. I have no way of knowing what may have contributed to the tragic accident, but there are a lot of bad driving habits on that stretch of road that make it more dangerous. There is too much difference in speed and too much incorrect lane usage. Too many doofuses drive in the left lane either below the speed limit or nearly the same speed as the vehicles in the right lane and create long back-ups behind them. Too many drivers lose ther cool and do very dumb things out of frustration to force their way around the lines of slow traffic that build up. The left-hand exit at I-96 and the numerous exits and entrances with short ramps do make it necessary for more drivers to use the left lane. But drivers need to remember to diligently complete the business of passing and get back into the right lane when they finish. That will make a more orderly traffic flow and cut down the frustration level for all. Please follow the rules: Drive right, pass left! (And please use the rearview mirror for something other than to hang clutter!)
Jim Walker
Mon, Oct 11, 2010 : 9:42 a.m.
Six lanes, a median barrier and a posted limit of 80 mph would make this road operate far more smoothly and safely. Regards, Jim Walker
BobbyJohn
Mon, Oct 11, 2010 : 9:08 a.m.
This is an overloaded road and needs to be enlarged to 6 lanes.
Christy
Mon, Oct 11, 2010 : 8:16 a.m.
I was heading north shortly after the crash and got off at Silver Lake to take the service drive (not realizing the cause of the back up) and ended up 3 feet from where the Prius had ended up. This is by far the worst accident I have ever seen. The damage was horrendous and I am still sick thinking about it. I can't imagine what all of the families of these victims are experiencing, but my heart goes out to all of them and I'll be praying for those that managed to survive. People fly through there. When I slowed down to stop due to the traffic backup from the accident, an accident nearly plowed into me. It's ridiculous how fast people fly around you through there. That being said, I can't even imagine what caused the Prius to cross over into the Southbound lane at that rate of speed, or any decent rate of speed. It's got a decent dip to the median so emotions aside, I'm curious as to what in the world happened.
Mark Payne
Mon, Oct 11, 2010 : 8:11 a.m.
I live on Silver Lake Road and travel this section of US-23 several times a day. These types of fatal crashes occur several times throughout the year, along this section of road. How many people have to die before this is remedied? I can see numerous road repairs to the same section of US-23 over and over again, but nothing is done to prevent opposing traffic from crossing the median. Nor, are there any police patrolling this section of road. Why? For that matter, people believe Silver Lake is an extension of US-23 and travel at a high rate of speed, with never a Green Oak Township cop in sight. Why is that? Once again, our tax dollars are never spent on the right things. Maybe someone will read these comments and make a decision of correcting this section of road. We need to try to take some type of action to help prevent any further tragedies. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families.
GoblueBeatOSU
Mon, Oct 11, 2010 : 5:12 a.m.
The Lansing State Journal has a great deal more detail on the people involved than AA.com. Thanks JoeM for the link. Per The Lansing State Journal not everyone in the Blazer had seat belts on. (I hope AA.com doesn't consider that comment as speculation as The Lansing State Journal has reported it as so.) You have to feel for the kids. Hopefully they'll be ok.
JoeM
Sun, Oct 10, 2010 : 11:04 p.m.
I live in the area and agree with the comments that US-23 is one of the worst roads in the state to have to drive. To correct the report, the location of the accident was just north of a turn. The Northbound car would have just exited the turn before the accident. The Lansing State Journal also has additional information on the accident... http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20101010/NEWS01/310100005/1190/EATONRAPIDS My condolences to the families of the accident victims.
Al McD
Sun, Oct 10, 2010 : 10:36 p.m.
M-Dot is installing median barriers on U.S 23. They begin at the Mi-Oh border and stop just south of Dundee.Let's hope they put these in all the way up 23 and All of our major divided highways.
johnnya2
Sun, Oct 10, 2010 : 10:03 p.m.
There was an accident that backed up traffic on US23 from entering off of Main Street in Ann Arbor, all the way to Nine Mile Rd on Friday evening. The speed is not the issue I see on the stretch, it is the road is not designed to handle the volume of traffic it carries. I am not suggesting this accident was caused by that, but I know many others are, due to merging and needing to get up to speed so quickly.
Kyle Mulka
Sun, Oct 10, 2010 : 9:22 p.m.
The wrecked cars were located several hundred feet north of where Baytes Dr. connects with Whitmore Lake Rd. I just checked a map, and there is a slight curve there.
Macabre Sunset
Sun, Oct 10, 2010 : 9:15 p.m.
It is a straight shot there for about a mile south of the Lee Road exit (the arrow on the map above is north of where it should be). Even at 80, there's no reason to be crossing a 45-foot median. That's an exaggeration, by the way. I go 80-85 all the time (no, I don't ride bumpers) and I pass most of the traffic. It's even a little slower traveling northbound because people start moving left for the I-96 interchange rather early. So let's not speculate as to the cause of the crash. Expressways are built to handle very fast traffic. Whatever it was had to be pretty serious to cause someone to go through that ditch and hit someone on the other side. I'm amazed any car could go across that median at a high rate of speed without flipping or crashing into the hill on the way back up. I hope the survivors recover.
Terrence
Sun, Oct 10, 2010 : 8:40 p.m.
I went to high school with these kids and we graduated in the same year they were really nice people and they will always be in everyones hearts from okemos high school
scooter dog
Sun, Oct 10, 2010 : 8:36 p.m.
And monday morning it will be business as usual on that section of road
Chuck
Sun, Oct 10, 2010 : 8:21 p.m.
My condolences to the friends and families of these people. That is always such a tragic stretch of road. Very little courtesy out there. I also agree about the patrolling of that are is atrocious. They hang out on either end and seem to avoid that area. I'd really like to see some improvements through there.
javajolt1
Sun, Oct 10, 2010 : 8:15 p.m.
Other than the area near the Kalmbach Rd. Exit on West I-94, this is the worst stretch of highway in the county. By volume of traffic, US-23 between Ann Arbor and Brighton should have been widened to at least six lanes years ago. I can't understand why stimulus money seems to be spent on completely and unnecessarily re-constructing perfectly good stretches of I-96 while this obvious and glaring safety issue remains unattended. The comments about speed and oversight are accurate, but this is the most dangerous stretch of road I drive when it is during the rush. Someone needs to address this now. How tragic it takes something like this horrific incident to draw attention to it. That is...if it draws attention to it.
scooter dog
Sun, Oct 10, 2010 : 8:04 p.m.
It is not a suprise to me that this happened.I travel this section of road 2-3 times a week and like the other poster here said. If your doing 80 plus your holding things up or someone is rideing your tail so close you can't see there headlights in you rear view mirror. Where is the cops? Sitting under the bridge at spencer rd and us-23,a regular hangout for the state bulls.
Indicat
Sun, Oct 10, 2010 : 7:52 p.m.
My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families, as well as the emergency personnel who responded. This was a tough accident to see.