Crash closes eastbound lanes of Washtenaw Avenue in Ann Arbor

Posted on Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 9:03 a.m.

Crash closes eastbound lanes of Washtenaw Avenue in Ann Arbor

By Cindy Heflin

A crash has closed the eastbound lanes of Washtenaw Avenue near Brockman Boulevard, Ann Arbor police said.

Westbound traffic was slowed to a single lane as rescue crews attempted to free the driver and remove the vehicle that crashed into the new fencing on the east side of the road about 9 a.m.. The fence was added over the summer as the non-motorized path was built along Washtenaw.

Ann Arbor Fire Department photo

The driver lost control of of the vehicle, which slid out of control, struck a fence and retaining wall and tipped into a deep ravine, Ann Arbor Fire Department Training Officer Craig Sidelinger said. The driver was trapped in the vehicle and had to be freed by firefighters.

Crews are applying salt to the area because the road surface is slippery, police said.

Further information about the crash, including whether anyone was injured, was not immediately available.

An overnight snowfall created slick road conditions and caused several crashes and spin-outs on Washtenaw County roads this morning, dispatchers said.

View Washtenaw Avenue Crash in a larger map

Comments

treetowncartel

Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 5:09 p.m.

Any idea how the repairs for this would be paid for if Michigan's no fault law is changed as proposed. Is the driver's insurance company still on the hook for the damage, or does the city have to sue the driver of the car for the repairs?

Mary Bilyeu

Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 5:03 p.m.

I drove past this on my way to work, and it was horrible to see the car in such a position! I do hope everyone in the vehicle is safe ....

monroe c

Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 4:37 p.m.

WOW! Looks like an SUV. How surprising...

treetowncartel

Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 9:06 p.m.

Looks like a Ford Explorer, probably blew a flat in it Firestone tire up front.

TheGerman

Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 7:56 p.m.

I won't argue that. 4WD will get you out of a lot of trouble!

jcj

Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 7:43 p.m.

@ TheGerman Not on your life! I have driven 4x4's for about 30 years. And I will say this. On the couple occasions I went in the ditch I did not need a tow truck to get me out!

TheGerman

Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 7:28 p.m.

Because 4WD makes you invincible to slippery conditions...

jcj

Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 5:01 p.m.

It does look like an SUV. But not all SUV'S are 4 wheel drive.

justwondering

Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 4:14 p.m.

Judging by the photo, and the location of the fence, I believe that the westbound lanes of Washtenaw would be closed, not the eastbound, unless they were moving the westbound traffic over to the eastbound lanes and forcing eastbound traffic elsewhere. The emergency vehicles shown are in the two westbound lanes, which would imply they are closed.

justcurious

Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 4:35 p.m.

I believe that I heard on the scanner that they were actually alternating the flow of traffic.

jcj

Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 2:58 p.m.

Given slow or non existent response on the cities part couldn't see this and many more coming?