5 hospitalized after crash on I-94 eastbound near Chelsea
Two adults and 3 children were hospitalized after a rollover accident this afternoon on I-94 eastbound by South Fletcher Road near Chelsea, authorities said.
A woman and a girl were flown to the University of Michigan Hospital in critical condition after the 3:10 p.m. accident, Chelsea Area Fire Capt. Augustine Syrovy said.
A man and 2 other children were taken by ambulance. One of those 3 was in critical condition, authorities said, while the other 2 were in stable condition.
Firefighters had to extricate 2 people from the Chevrolet Suburban, which was upright when authorities arrived on scene. Firefighters found 3 of the people outside the SUV, including the woman who was not responsive, officials said.
Syrovy did not know whether anyone was ejected. He said he did not have information on whether seat belts were worn.
At one point, the crash prompted investigators to close the interstate in both directions, but all lanes have reopened.
Michigan State Police troopers are investigating. Troopers could not be reached for comment this afternoon.
Comments
akeisha
Thu, Aug 25, 2011 : 2:21 p.m.
Hello everyone me and my mother would like to send special thanks to everyone that was on the sence my one and only sister has left me i know that she is in a better place but it really hurts bad i would love to hear from the er doctor that was on the sence and scott and anyone else that was on the sence please email me at brooksakeisha22@gmail.com we really would like to hear from someone who was there i love and thank everyone that was there my sister is no longer with us but her daughter is fine just please continue to pray for are family and keep us in your prayers thanks again and please contact me by email again brooksakeisha22@gmail.com please please it would make my mother feel very good thanks
Dnthmdmn
Wed, Aug 24, 2011 : 1:22 p.m.
The vehicle contained a lady I worked with, her 8 year old daughter, her boyfriend & his two children. The boyfriend has a broken jaw. His 2 children were treated & released. Her daughter regained consciousness yesterday. However I am sad to report the mother & my co-worker has passed. She will be greatly missed & our prayers are with the family.
Heady99
Tue, Aug 23, 2011 : 12:28 p.m.
How about an update AnnArbor.com???????
KCDoc
Tue, Aug 23, 2011 : 4:23 a.m.
I was the ER Doc on scene, I have to commend all the concerned public for their immediate first aid, the medics and flight crew for their rapid arrival on scene and excellent care they administered. I am usually on the receiving side of these disasters but it was amazing to see the EMS system arrive so rapidly, quickly triage the scene and stabilize and transport the injured. My thoughts and prayers are with the family and girlfriend.
akeisha
Thu, Aug 25, 2011 : 2:24 p.m.
That was my sister that has passed in that car accident we are living in battle creek michigan the services will be on monday please contact me by email brooksakeisha22@gmail.com please and thank you so much again we really appericate all that you did for the family and please continue to keep us in your prayers that you again you don';t know how much your help mean to us it would be nice even if you could attend the service but please email so we could talk threw email again brooksakeisha22@gmail.com please thank you
sonya
Tue, Aug 23, 2011 : 1:18 a.m.
i know the relatives of this family and the people who stopped to help are very kind but what i dont understand is how all off the comments are talking about this dog more than the people in the accident.
FoxviewFarm
Tue, Aug 23, 2011 : 12:30 p.m.
I understand- but if the only thing you could do in this situation is help reunite the dog with the family, especially tell a little child that their dog was okay after such a hiorrific event, it does become important. It's one thing to hold onto for this family. Sonya, please tell the family that there are many that are thinking and praying for them. I am sure this is devistating for everyone.
Jen Eyer
Tue, Aug 23, 2011 : 12:42 a.m.
A comment was blocked until we can verify the information that it contained.
FoxviewFarm
Mon, Aug 22, 2011 : 10:45 p.m.
So so horrible if true. To those that stopped and helped, you really made a difference in the lives of those kids. You're kindness is really evident and noticed in your posts. I don't know any of you, nor the family involved but you restored a bit of faith in mankind. Prayers and positive thoughts for the family, and their dog.
Tru2Blu76
Mon, Aug 22, 2011 : 8:46 p.m.
Yes, God help that family. What a terrible tragedy. Thanks also to the ones who had the presence of mind to try to help. You are good human beings, that's what I appreciate.
a2kathie
Mon, Aug 22, 2011 : 4:35 p.m.
It was also stated that the driver swerved to miss a stool in the road. Parents, please help your college kids and other moving young adults safely secure their furniture when moving it in a pickup truck - it could save a life.
ericb
Mon, Aug 22, 2011 : 2:43 p.m.
I too was one of the first to the accident site and was helping the little girl in the back seat (who also was wearing her seatbelt) throughout. So many thanks to the others that helped to keep the family calm until the paramedics arrived. I know there was an ER Doc who, if the driver survives, may have saved her life by keeping her air passage open. The kids in the back seat were stunned but remained brave. I was able to stop the bleeding with the little girl on her forehead with a t-shirt I had in my car. Because of her head injury, we played a game to keep her alert where she squeezed my hand and I squeezed it back. She didn't want me to leave her side when the paramedics came. She started to doze but we continue to play the game. She answered my questions with accuracy. I stayed as they put a neck brace on her and left when they were ready to remove her - her rear passenger door was also jammed. Her shoulder was broken as well. Surprising that they did not get her out of there quicker to give themselves more room to work on getting the driver (I'm assuming was the mother) out. One of the brothers had a lower leg injury (it was trapped behind the mothers seat) and the third and youngest seemed to escape injury. The man in the passenger seat (I'm assuming the father) was at first unconscious and eventually came to. He was brought out to the side of the road. I'm not sure who besides the mother was helicoptered out. My thoughts and prayers are with this entire family. Everyone reading this should take pause and realize our lives can change in a split second. Stay focused on the road and try to avoid any controllable distractions.
akeisha
Thu, Aug 25, 2011 : 2:27 p.m.
Thank you so much for being there for my niece and the family that was my sister on the sence of the car accident its so unbelieveable to us you just never know whats going to happen please continue to pray for us and if you would please email me at brooksakeisha22@gmail.com please we would really love to hear from please contact us i know it would make my mother feel very good also please keep us in your prayers thanks alot
stephanie
Mon, Aug 22, 2011 : 11:18 p.m.
Hi i am a friend of the family an they are greatful for your help. The little girl survived an is doing ok...
Renae
Mon, Aug 22, 2011 : 2:33 p.m.
Also wanted to say thank you to Jeff for finding the dog and returning it! The little boy was asking us about his dog. One of the ladies I was with at the scene responded very well to the boy, saying "he made it out! We saw him running, so he's doing fine." It was so sad seeing this injured boy with unresponsive parents ask about his dog. So I'm really grateful for Jeff and everyone getting the dog back to the scene.
jns131
Mon, Aug 22, 2011 : 2:23 p.m.
I posted this on another site and thought it was here. At any rate, that stretch of highway is almost as if it is built on ancient burial ground. There is always some major accident happening in that stretch that closes it down. Glad to hear people walked. Glad to hear the dog got out ok, took some risk in doing so, but great to hear. Need the NTSB to figure out why that stretch is so dangerous. I hate driving that stretch myself.
Renae
Mon, Aug 22, 2011 : 2:19 p.m.
I'm scottg's fiancee. We did stop and help the family since we were so near to the accident. To clear up a few things in the article...the car was headed westbound. It was a few cars in front of us. It rolled into the median and landed right side up. There was a female adult driver, who I presume was the mother. She was unconscious and was not doing well at all. One of the little boys in the back seat was injured but could talk and move around. He was wearing his seatbelt. He wanted to take it off, so I helped him remove it. It's hard to say, but I presume since he was wearing his seatbelt, the other children probably were, too. A few minutes later, myself and a few other ladies helped him get out of the car. The driver was not able to be moved. As we were leaving the scene the emergency workers I believe were trying to remove the door in order to take her out. I said a prayer over the family while we were waiting for the ambulance, since there was not much we could do but wait...my prayers are still with them.
Renae
Tue, Aug 23, 2011 : 2:36 p.m.
Hi Stephanie...it was me and also many other people...I am grateful there were several of us who could at least be with them while we waited for emergency responders. I don't think I can post a number on here, but I will email it to the reporter of this article. Please contact him (under "info" section) if you'd like to get in touch.
stephanie
Mon, Aug 22, 2011 : 11:16 p.m.
hi i am a friend of the family and they were wondering if they could have your number. they are greatful for the help you gave....
nixon41
Mon, Aug 22, 2011 : 1:26 p.m.
God Bless those who are involved. We will pray for their recovery.
Pika
Mon, Aug 22, 2011 : 1:05 p.m.
What a horrible situation - Thank you scottg helping the trapped family. My thoughts are with the family.
Jeff Grover
Mon, Aug 22, 2011 : 4:03 a.m.
I helped run the dog down. After following the dog East bound for a half mile with my truck I jumped out and chased it across the median and through West bound traffic that had come to a stop. It finally tired and jumped in a vehical of similar design to its owners. A woman that had been at the scene of the accident took the dog from the vehicle and walked back to the accident. I left at that time never having stopped at the accident. God help the family and their needs.
stephanie
Mon, Aug 22, 2011 : 11:22 p.m.
yes you are the family is very thankful and have the dog back
Guy
Mon, Aug 22, 2011 : 4:42 a.m.
you are a good man Jeff. Thanks for helping out
breadman
Mon, Aug 22, 2011 : 2:44 a.m.
Hold together and PRAY for all!!!!!!
scottg
Mon, Aug 22, 2011 : 1:53 a.m.
This accident occurred going westbound. I was five cars behind the suburban and saw this happen. I'm told by my fiance that the suburban swerved to miss a stool that was in the middle of the highway. I saw it fishtail to the right, and then lose control in the grass median and saw the car flip about seven times. My fiance and I got out along with a few other cars ahead of us. As we were getting out, I saw the dog leave the scene and run into traffic going east, barely missing getting hit by a truck. No one was ejected out of the car, only some debris like children's toys and gatorade bottles. My fiance tended to the child behind the driver's seat. The driver seemed very out of it. The child behind the driver was aware and responsive (all the children appeared to be under the age of ten). I crossed the eastbound traffic and gave search for the dog for about five mins. I couldn't find it, and when the ambulance arrived I crossed the traffic and my fiance and I went back to our car to let the first responders do their work.
Mike Belzer
Mon, Aug 22, 2011 : 1:13 a.m.
We saw the dog running around also. Some people on the westbound side picked it up and returned it to the scene of the crash, but we don't know what they did with the dog. I think the adults were not able to take custody of the dog; perhaps the two "stable" children were. They are going to need it. I didn't see the crash occur but we stopped about half a mile short of the crash when they closed the road. Three people thrown from the vehicle tells us something, unfortunately. I think though the vehicle was badly damaged (the side of the roof pushed over and damage on the side), I think it was eminently survivable compared with others I have seen, but if they weren't wearing seat belts, their chances of survival were drastically reduced. A rolling Suburban is pretty sturdy and it held together pretty well, but the forces inside are violent.
FoxviewFarm
Wed, Aug 24, 2011 : 12:47 p.m.
Ah...I think you do research on accidents, don't you? I understand where your posts are coming from, now. I drive that stretch every day from Chelsea exit to WSU and have seen far too many of these accidents happen. Spooks me every time.
TrappedinMI
Sun, Aug 21, 2011 : 8:27 p.m.
My husband drove by the accident. He said he also saw a dog running by the highway there. I hope it was not from the accident.
DBH
Sun, Aug 21, 2011 : 8:26 p.m.
There is now one lane open on I-94, both east and west, at the site of the accident.
Les Gov
Sun, Aug 21, 2011 : 8:23 p.m.
oh man....with MIS letting out right now this is going to go from bad to worse.
Craig Lounsbury
Sun, Aug 21, 2011 : 8:35 p.m.
good observation.
FoxviewFarm
Sun, Aug 21, 2011 : 8:09 p.m.
Slow slow going. Must be horrible if both copters are being called in. As for the privileged drivers that are using the shoulders.... Seriously?? How ... Ugh. There are no words. Let's just hope your wife is in labor or something. Prayers to the victims.
Jason Westbrook
Sun, Aug 21, 2011 : 8 p.m.
At this time Westbound I94 is also closed. Saw them bring in a couple helicopters which took some of the injured out. I'd avoid the expressway completely for a while. Doesn't look like its going to be cleared anytime soon.